Frequently Asked Questions About Shi'a Islam

Are Shi'a Muslims?

Yes, Shi'a are Muslims. The Shi’a profess the divine unity of Allah (swt) - Tawhid. This is a fundamental belief in Islam and anyone who decides to believe in anything other than monotheism has fallen into disbelief and repentance is obligatory on him lest he dies and remains in the fire forever. They affirm the belief in the Day of Judgment (Ma'ad) and fulfill the core obligations of Islam, such as prayer, fasting, charity, and Hajj.

In a famous hadith, Rasulullah (s) said that anyone who professes the Shahadah is a Muslim. Therefore, considering Shi'a as disbelievers contradicts this fundamental teaching and is surely strange.

Do the Shi'a Worship Ali b. Abi Talib (as)?

No. Shi'a worship Allah (swt) alone. Worshiping anyone besides Allah (swt) is considered disbelief. Imam Ali (as) himself instructed his followers to worship Allah exclusively.

Do the Shi'a Believe Jibrael Made a Mistake?

No, this is a false accusation. No credible Shi'a scholar has ever made such a claim. The basis of these accusations comes from lies brought forth by Sunni polemicists such as Ibn Taymiyyah who made these accusations in their anti-Shia books. Believing that Jibrael (a) could err implies Allah (swt) erred in His command, which is an unacceptable notion in Islam.

Why Do the Shi'a Pray Three Times a Day?

Shi'a perform all five obligatory daily prayers (Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha). However, it is permissible to combine:

Dhuhr with Asr
Maghrib with Isha

In Islam, it is permissible to combine Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha. However, Sunni jurists (fuqaha) hold that this is allowed only under specific conditions, while Shi'a jurists believe it is permissible at any time, regardless of circumstance. This difference in understanding arises from the interpretation of hadiths, where various traditions can be understood in multiple ways, leading to differing opinions.

Interestingly, the Qur'an mentions three distinct prayer times, though acknowledging five prayers [11:114, 17:78].

Why Do the Shi'a Hit Themselves During Mourning?

Shi'a mourn the tragedy of Imam al-Hussain (as), following the traditions and recommendations found in numerous hadiths. Mourning ceremonies sometimes include striking oneself as a form of grief expression. This practice is primarily cultural and symbolic, not obligatory.

The principle of 'no harm' applies, and any form of mourning that causes self-harm is generally discouraged.

Why Do the Shi'a Prostrate on a Rock (Turbah)?

Shi'a prostrate on natural materials, such as clay or stone, as prescribed in Shi'a jurisprudence. The Turbah is a mixture of dust and mud, often made from the soil of Karbala (the land of Imam al-Hussain's martyrdom), is considered blessed. In Shi'a fiqh (jurisprudence), it is believed that one must prostrate on anything natural whether a rock, a leaf or the likes. This is based on narrations and it a standard for the prayer to be valid, meaning to pray on just the fabric of a praying mat would make the prayer invalid.

Why Do Shi'a Call Themselves 'Shi'a'?

The term Shi'a means 'followers' or 'partisans' in Arabic. It has no negative connotation. It is even used in the Qur'an by Sayyidna Ibrahim (as) as a means to distinguish himself from the mushrikeen, for he is a true follower of Sayyidna Nuh (as) [37:83] and likewise the believer from ale Fir'aun is referred to as Shi'a of Musa (as) [28:15].

There are also plenty of hadith's which contain the word 'Shi'a'. So simply put, we call ourselves the Shi'a of Ali (as) because there are many different views amongst the Sahaba about what kind of a man Rasulullah (s) was and different views surrounding him, hence we call ourselves the Shi'a of Ali (as) to show that the description of Rasulullah (s) and Islam that we follow is the description of Ali's.

Do the Shi'a Believe in the Qur'an?

Yes. Belief in the Qur'an as the absolute truth, revealed by Rasulullah (s), is an integral requirement for one to be considered a Muslim. Unfortunately, a prevailing misconception, often propagated by certain adherents of Wahhabi ideology, suggests that Shi'a beliefs can be contradicted using Qur'anic references. However, it is important to clarify that the Qur'an holds paramount importance within Shi'a Islam. It is the cornerstone of knowledge and serves as the initial reference point for assessing the authenticity of narrations.

Do the Shi'a Believe the Qur'an is Corrupted (Tahrif)?

No. The belief that Shi'a consider the Qur'an corrupted is a misconception. The concept of Tahrif (distortion) has different meanings:

Misinterpretation – When people misinterpret verses based on personal opinions or desires.
Differences in Qira'at – Variations in recitation styles, which do not alter the meaning or content of the Qur'an.
Verse-level Disputes – Debates about the inclusion of Basmala before Surahs, found in both Sunni and Shi'a traditions.
Addition – The idea that something in the current Mushaf is not divine revelation. This view is universally rejected by all Shi'as. Its invalidity is known by necessity (bil Dharura); unlike Sunni scholars who believed Surah Naas & Falaq are an addition and not part of the Qur'an.
Omission – The belief that parts of the Qur'an are missing. The dominant Shi'a stance rejects this, and affirm that the Qur'an is complete.

Shi'a scholars affirm that the Qur'an is preserved and protected by Allah (swt). Claims to the contrary misrepresent Shi'a beliefs.