Shia Islam

Deviant

الشيعة

Overview

Shia Islam is a broad umbrella encompassing various groups that arose following the assassination of Ali ibn Abi Talib (661 CE / 40 AH) and hold that the Imamate should have passed through the lineage of Ali and Fatimah. Theological and political positions range widely — from the relatively moderate Zaydis to the extreme Rafidah. Ahl us-Sunnah scholarship distinguishes carefully between ordinary Shia laymen (potentially within the fold) and groups with specific doctrinal positions that place them outside it.

Key Beliefs

The Imamate belongs exclusively to the lineage of Ali ibn Abi Talib
The legitimacy of Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman's caliphates is rejected
The Imam has special religious authority over the community

Scholarly Evaluation

Ahl us-Sunnah scholars have nuanced positions on Shia Muslims. The broad Shia category includes groups ranging from deviant (Zaydi, mainstream Twelver) to those outside the fold entirely (Rafidah, Ismaili). The key distinctions are: (1) Does the person curse the Companions? (2) Do they invoke dead Imams in du'a? (3) Do they hold the Quran was corrupted? Ordinary Shia laymen who simply believe Ali had a stronger right to caliphate but do not curse companions are not declared kafir by most Ahl us-Sunnah scholars.

Key Figures

Ali ibn Abi Talib (4th Caliph, 1st Shia Imam in Shia framework)
Al-Husayn ibn Ali (3rd Imam, d. 680 CE/61 AH at Karbala)

Sources

Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah (Ibn Taymiyyah)
Al-Farq bayn al-Firaq (al-Baghdadi)

Founded

40h (661 CE)

Sub-Groups

Zaydi ShiaDeviant Twelver Shia (Ithna Ashari)Deviant Ismaili ShiaOutside the Fold