Shia etymology
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Shī‘a terms |
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- This is a sub-article of Shi'a Islam.
| Arabic |
| شیعه |
| Transliteration |
| Shi'a |
| Translation |
| follower/partisan |
Shi'a ("follower" or "partisan) as an Islamic term traces its etymology to the very first century of Islam.
Contents |
[edit] Transliteration
The singular/adjective form of Shi‘ah (Arabic: شيعة) is Shi‘i (Arabic: شيعي). The apostrophe frequently used (e.g. Shi'a) is technically incorrect, since the Arabic letter is the ayin (ع), standardly represented with a grave accent (`), left half-circle (ʿ), or turned comma (‘). The apostrophe represents the hamza, which has a noted difference in pronunciation. The final Arabic letter is the ta' marbuta, which also causes difficulty in transliteration. It is often pronounced as a soft /h/ (e.g. Shi‘ah), but in a construct state, and in more classical Arabic, it is pronounced as a /t/ (e.g. Shi‘at ‘Ali). The ta' marbuta is frequently dropped in transliteration (e.g. Shia).
Due to the complexities of Arabic, there are approximately 30 possible transliterations of شيعة. For technical accuracy Shi‘ah is the preferred form. Using the Arabic chat alphabet, the transliteration is Shi3a.
[edit] Overview
The etymology and origin of the phrase Shi'at Ali is according to both Shi'a and Sunni sources a phrase that was used by the Islamic prophet Muhammad himself, initially used as a title for a group of followers of Ali in praise. Shi'a put the emphasize on those narrations, whereupon the present day Shi'a argue the usage of this term is encouraged by Sunnah.
Two other considerable factions afterwards came that carried the title "Shi'a". One that of the followers of Uthman, the Shi'a of Uthman or also known as the Uthmaniyyah, those who supported the rebellion against Ali during the Battle of the Camel in 36 AH. The other one was the Shi'a of Mauwiyah during the Battle of Siffin in 37 AH.
Sunnis put the emphasize on the political climate of 37 AH when tracing the term Shi'a. Shah Abdul Aziz, a 19th century Sunni Deobandi Islamic scholar writes:
Regarding the Shi'a of Mauwiyah, Muhammad al-Tijani, a 20th century Shi'a Twelver Islamic scholar elaborates [2]:
Sunnis do not view themselves as exclusively Shi'a of Muawiyah, rather, they view all Sahaba as reliable, considering the dispute between Muawiyah and Ali ibn Abi Talib to be political only. The term "Shi'a (of Ali)" later on became an ideological path in reference to the followers of Muhammad's family during the sixth Shi'a Imam, Jafar al Sadiq, whom was a descendant of Muhammad.
Shi'as historically do not see themselves as a sect but as followers of Muhammad and his Ahl al-Bayt and have no problem referring to themselves as such in addition to being Muslim.
[edit] Qur'anic usage
The Arabic term is also used in the Qur'an.
Here Shi'a is translated into way, a translation more emphasizing the term goes; "And most surely Abraham was among the Shi'a of him (i.e., Noah)"
Here Shi'a is translated into party, in reference to a partisan of Musa (Moses) who was aided.
Here Shi'a, in its plural form, is translated into sect.
[edit] History
[edit] Muhammad
Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, a 16th century Sunni Islamic scholar provides a commentary for this tradition, saying:
Above, "(those who) love outside the boundary of law" denotes what is presently known as Shi'a Islam. A more complete version of the tradition which is also included in Sunni sources is as follows:
[edit] Ali ibn Abi Talib
Imam Ali was the cousin of Muhammad, highly respected by both the Sunni and the Shia. Sunni-Muslims tend to view him as the fourth Rightly Guided Caliph, while the Shia-Muslims view him as the first Imam. In the book Nahj al-Balagha, which is a collection of Imam Ali's sermons viewed as authentic by the Shia, we read following:
In another of Imam Ali's sermons quoted in Nahj al-Balagha, he said:
[edit] Al-Hasan ibn Ali
Imam Hasan, the grandson of Muhammad, stated in connection with the Fitna between him and Muawiyah:
[edit] Imam Baqir
From Imam Baqir's, the Fifth Ahlul Bayt Imam and fourth grandson of Muhammad, conversation with Jabir al-Ju'afi
From Imam Baqir's conversation with Sa'id ibn Al-Hassan.
[edit] Imam Jafar
From Imam Jafar, The Sixth Ahlul Bayt Imam and fifth grandson of Muhammad:
Also:
Also:
[edit] Imam Rida
- Imam Rida, The eight Ahlul Bayt Imam and seventh grandson of Muhammad:
[edit] References
- ^ Taufa Ithna Ashari, Persian edition p 18, publishers Sohail Academy, Lahore, Pakistan
- ^ Then I was Guided on Al-Islam.org [1]
- ^ Sunni Sources:
- a) Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p655,
- b) Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu'aym, v4, p329,
- c) History of Baghdad by Al-Khatib al-Baghdadi, v12, p289,
- d) al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani,
- e) Majma al-Zawa'id, by Ali ibn Abu Bakr al-Haythami, v10, pp 21-22,
- f) al-Darqunti, who said this tradition has been transmitted via numerous authorities.,
- g) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p247.
- ^ al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah Ch. 11, section 1, p236 [2]
- ^ Quran 98:7
- ^ Sunni Sources:
- a) al-Hafidh Jamaluddin al-Dharandi, on the authority of Ibn Abbas
- b) al-Sawa'iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 246-247 [3]
- ^ Sunni source:Musnad Imam Ahmad hadith no #5099
- ^ Sunni source: Sunan Abu Dawood Hadith no #4072
- ^ Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 4
- ^ Nahjul Balagha, Sermon 191
- ^ Shia source: al-Ihtijâj by Abu Mansur al-Tabarsî vol. 2 p. 290-291 (Mu'assasat al-A'lamî, Beirut 1989)
- ^ Shia Source; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 65
- ^ Shia Source; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 66
- ^ Shia Sources; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 66
- ^ Shia Source; Allamah Muhammad rida al-Muzaffar - The faith of Shi'a Islam p. 67
- ^ Shia Source; Ziyarat Nahiya al-Muqadasa - Vahid Majd p. 11
- ^ Shia Source; Ziyarat Nahiya Al-Muqadasa - Vahid Majd p. 10
