TRUE IMAMS

TRUE IMAMS ACCORDING

TO SHIA

NON-SHIA POSITION

ON IMAMS
Velayat Ali, Velayat Faghieh: Shia believes the leadership (Velayat) of Muslim Ummah was left for Imam Ali (RA) after the Prophet (PBUH) and after Imam Ali (RA) to the 11 Imam until the 4th century Hijra then to a pious chosen leader that is approved by all pious Muslims as an example of follower and Shia of Ali (RA). To Shia, pious leadership is a must. Most of Shia Imams were martyred by corrupt khalifehs because of their piety and modesty. Even in recent years, Ayatollah Komeini, a Shia leader, fought with the Shah of Iran for 30 years until he toppled the Shah and got rid of 2500 years of monarchy in Iran. Now Iran is ruled by Velayat Faghih (pious leader). A Shia corrupt leader like the Shah of Iran was as a bad as Sonni corrupt leader of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the gulf nations. As a Muslim Ummah, we all should ask for Velayat Faghih. A pious leadership like the Prophet (PBUH) like Ali (RA), Imam Hossein (RA) and Imam Mahdi (Alahie Salam). Most of the non-Shia Muslim leaders were appointed and supported by corrupt Khalifehs. They were very mild mannered and learned to look the other way. They promoted Islam the way the rulers wanted and not the way our Prophet (PBUH) promoted. Best examples are today’s Imams in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, etc. They do not object to corruption around them. Most of the non-Shia Imams had high official positions with Khalifs. Imam Maleki was the Chief Justice. Yazid got Fatva (approval) of Imams in Damascus to martyr Imam Hossein (RA) and 72 members of the Prophet’s (PBUH) family (Ahlul Bayt). Pious leadership is one of the main principles of Islam. We should not accept any leader who is not pious, modest and follows our Prophet (PBUH) in Zaher and Baten (outwardly appearance).

The Prophet (PBUH) recommended Ali (RA) as the best person to follow his Resalat. A recommendation does not need election, i.e. a cardiologist (heart specialist) wants to leave town and tells people the best cardiologist to cover me is Dr. so and so. There is no need for election. The Prophet (PBUH) wanted to keep Islam on the right track for a few hundred years until the Islamic Revolution is matured. However, Omar (RA) did not follow this recommendation and started the principle of Shura and Bayat. We witnessed the result 50 years later when Yazid, the worst person in Islam, took over the khelafat in the year 61 (AH) and martyred Imam Hossein (RA) and the 72 members of the Prophet’s family. In 62 AH Yazid’s army attacked Medina and martyred thousands of Shiayam and Seyedan, and destroyed the Prophet’s mosque. In the year 63 AH, Yazid’s army attacked Mecca and killed thousands of Muslims. Fortunately, Yazid died in 64 AH due to alcoholism.

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL CLASS ACCORDING TO SHIA

SOCIAL CLASS AND SOCIAL JUSTICE IN NON-SHIA GROUPS
The Prophet (PBUH) became Prophet 13 years before Hijra. His wife, Khadijeh (RA) joined him first, then Ali (RA), a 10 year old cousin, who was living with the Prophet at the time. Zaid, Khadijeh’s servant, then joined him. The Prophet had two groups of early followers:

A: A group of oppressed and under-class Sahaba:

1) Ali (RA), the Prophet’s cousin

2) Zaid (a servant of Khadijeh)

3) Bilal (an Ethiopian black slave with a nice voice)

4) Amar (son of a white slave)

5) Abozar Ghafari (a poor man)

6) Salman Farci (an Iranian white slave)

After the Prophet (PBUH) died, the elite group outside the Prophet’s family, voted for Abobakr Sadigh as the first khalifeh and Abobakr (RA) chose Omar (RA) as his successor. Omar (RA) chose the 5 elites (Osman, Abdol Rahman Oof, Talheh, Zobier, Saad Ibn Abi Vaggas) and Ali (RA) to form a committee and naturally, Osman (RA) was elected as the third khalif. Osman gradually shifted to the elite group. His son-in-law, Marvan Ibn Hakam, was running the government. The people revolted against Osman and killed him (35 AH). Then Ali (RA) became khalifeh and started emphasizing social justice and modesty. The wealthy and elite did not like that. A war broke out among Muslims and eventually the elite class succeeded.

 After the Prophet (PBUH) was chosen as God’s last prophet, first a group of his family and poor people joined him, then a group of high-class elite from outside his family joined.

 

Group B: Elite Sahaba

1) Abobkr Sadigh (his friend, a wealthy man). Then with his recommendation:

2) Saad Ibn Abivagas (later conqueror of Iran and the father of Ibn Saad who martyred Imam Hossein (RA) (61 AH).

3) Abdolrahman Ibn Oof [a wealthy man, after Omar (RA) he chose Osman to be the 3rd khalifeh].

4) Talheh, a wealthy man.

5) Zobier, a wealthy man. Talheh and Zobier took arm and fought against the central government, the 4th khalifeh, Imam Ali (RA) (in 36 AH) and got defeated and killed.

6) Osman (RA), cousin of Abosofyan and a wealthy man. He became the 3rd khalif who started close relations with Moavieh. Osman was killed in a riot against him. The 4th khalif was Imam Ali (RA) (35 AH). Moavieh, the son of Abosofyan, ruler of Damascus, revolted against Imam Ali (RA) and divided the Islamic Empire. After Imam Ali’s death, Moavieh took over the khelafat and made it a monarchy and an elite luxurious lifestyle similar to what you see nowadays in Saudi Arabia the gulf countries was started. Social justice and pious leadership still is a dream for Muslim ummah that we must strive for it.