shia Theology

Source: Ain-al-Hayat, By: Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi The superior Prophets (as) were all endowed with their own Shariah (Jurisprudence) that was relevant to their times. The Prophet of Islam (S) too brought with him the perfect Shariah. If there was juridical change with each Prophet (S), it doesn’t mean that the earlier laws were defective in any manner. Since the followers of Prophet Musa (as) were very mischievous, stringent punishments were prescribed to reform them. It was the rule, for example, that if someone got some urine splashed on his body, the skin of that part was peeled off. For murder, there was no other punishment than death. The people of Prophet ‘Isa (as) were mild natured. They were not required to do Jehad. Capital punishment was not practiced. Celibacy and living like hermits was in vogue. The people of our Prophet (S) were moderates. The Shariah, therefore, is middle of the road. For the crime of murder, Qasas (life-for-life) and Deet (payment of blood money) are both permitted. In cases of bodily harm, the right to pardon has been given to the sufferer or his successors in the event of his death. Our Imams (A.S.) have forbidden the practice of Bidaa (innovation) Interpreting or changing the Shariah using ones inept and unbefitting intellect is apostasy and heresy. Getting misled by Satan and praying with ones own intuition and considering this as nearness to Allah is gross ignorance (Jehalat). Our intellects are a combination of good, bad and indifferent. The Prophets (as), on the other hand, have been endowed with superior intellects and the laws enunciated by them have Allah’s seal of approval. Any deviation from them is hypocrisy and heresy. For example: a pious Christian celibate thinks that if he died inflicting hardship on himself in seclusion, he would earn nearness to God! This is sheer misguided ignorance. Bidaa (innovation) means declaring things taboo that are termed good by Allah and declaring things good that are taboo according to the dictates of the Almighty. For example, Allah has allowed (Mustaheb) offering of prayers (optional) without restriction of timing. But if someone thinks that he should offer prayer exactly at the time of sunset thinking that Allah has strictly prescribed that timing is sheer innovation and is haram. Omar has prescribed six Rakaat (acts of standing, genuflection and prostration) of optional prayer exactly at the time of mid-morning (chasht). This is an innovation and Haram. Our Imams (as) have forbidden this practice. Similarly if some one offers three rakat of optional prayer, it would be an innovation. Similarly doing two genuflections (Ruku) in one rakat is an innovation because the Prophet has never adopted this practice. Another example: Repeating the words La ilaha ila Allah continuously is the practice (Sunna) of the Prophet (S) and is extremely beneficial to the supplicant. But prescribing it as compulsory act to be repeated twelve thousand times after the morning- prayer is an innovation. The Prophet (S) never prescribed this practice. Bidaa or innovation in the religious practices is a big sin. There has always been a dispute between the Shi’a and Sunni Muslims that Shi’as have been emulating their Imams (that are exactly in accordance to the practice of the Holy Prophet and the Sunnis have been abstaining from following the Ahl-ul-Bayt. They have been using their own poor intellects and have given rise to several innovations. Our Imams (as) have therefore rejected them. Kulaini quotes from a reliable source that the Prophet (S) has said, “Every hypocrisy is heresy, and the way a heretic takes leads him to the Hell.” It is narrated that a person asked Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) and Imam Musa al-Kadhim (as), “How should I offer prayers to Allah?” They said, “Don’t do innovations in the Religion. Whoever interferes with the tenets of the Faith, he gets punished. One who veers away from the pronouncements of the Prophet (S) and the Imams (as) has gone astray. One who disobeys Allah is an infidel!” Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) said, “One who uses his own mind in religious matters and gives fatwa is interfering in the affairs of Allah. He commits the blunder of determining Halal and Haram wrongly through his own intuition.” Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) said, “The innovator is the person who shuns the Sunna (the practices) of the Holy Prophet!” The Prophet of Islam (S) has said, When innovation raises its head amongst my people, the Ulema should propagate their knowledge to stop the spread of the innovations. If the Ulema don’t do this, they are the accursed (the malaoon). The Prophet (S) added, “A person who visits an innovator and pays respects to him, he is tantamount to abetting the spoiling of Islam!” The Prophet (S) also said, “Allah does not answer the prayers of an innovator!” “The love for the innovations gets fixed in the heart of the innovator and never leaves him!” It is reported from Halabi that he asked Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as), “O Imam (as)! Tell me about the smallest thing that can turn a believer into an infidel?” The Imam (as) said, “It is innovation by the person in the matters of Faith! A person who follows the innovator too is an infidel and also one who opposes the adversaries of the innovator!” Abi Rabi Shami says that he asked Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as), “O Imam (as)! What is it that expels a person from the Faith?” The Imam (as) replied, “Conviction against righteousness and insisting on that!” Bareed Ajali reports that he asked Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as), “O Imam (as)! What is it that makes a person an infidel?” The Imam (as) picked a few pebbles from the ground. And said, “A person who says that these are the seeds of dates!” The Imam (as) further added, “This would mean that the person is speaking against the factual position. Similarly when a person speaks against the True Faith and hates its followers. Such a person is a Nasibi, an infidel!” It is narrated that people asked Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as), “What is the meaning of Sunna, Bidaa, Jamaa and Furqa?” The Imam (as) replied. “Sunna is what the Prophet (S) of Islam has enunciated and put into practice. Jama\'at are the people living with whom the Prophet (S) has exhorted, these are the Righteous (Ahl-ul-Haq). However small in numbers these Ahl-ul-Haq might be. Furqa are the group of persons the Prophet (S) has warned his people not to follow. These persons are the misguided group! They might be in larger numbers! Kulaini narrates from Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as), “Allah has not missed anything that is necessary for His people. He communicated all of it to the Prophet (S) and Revealed in the Holy Qur’an. He fixed the measure for everything and Has Prescribed punishment for exceeding the limits.” Authentic sources narrate from Imam Zain-ul-’Abidin (as), “The best act in the consideration of Allah, however small, is that which is in accord with the practice of the Prophet of Islam (S).” It is narrated from Amir’ul-Mu’mineen ‘Ali (as) that the Prophet (S) said, “Saying something without acting on it is futile. Belief and action are both futile if the intent is not right. And all the three are of no use if they are not in accordance with the precept and the sunna of the Prophet (S).” It is said that when Satan refused to prostrate to prophet Adam (as) and Allah’s curse was inflicted on him, he said, “O Allah! Excuse me from prostrating to Adam (as)! I shall offer prostrations to an extent that any angel or prophet (S) would never do!” Allah observed, “We don’t need your supplications! Obeying My Orders in itself is supplication to Me!” Sheik Toosi narrates from Imam Ja’far As-Sadiq (as) that the Prophet (S) said, “O people! It is mandatory for you to follow my Sunna! Doing small things according to the sunna is better than doing more through innovation (Bidat).” Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (as) says, “If you have any doubts about the matters of Faith, refer them to us. We shall explain them to you!” Imam Mehdi (as) says, “If you get doubts about the tenets of Shariah, refer to the narrators of our traditions. They (the Ulema) are the authorities (Hujjat) for you and we are the authority (Hujjat) from Allah for them.” Authentic sources narrate a tradition that if one has doubt about matters of religion, he must refer to the people who are well versed about Halal and Haram. Consider them your referee that Allah has appointed them as such. If you reject their advice, it will be tantamount to rejecting our orders and Allah’s Orders! One who rejects Allah’s Orders is a polytheist (mushrik) and infidel. Bear in mind that on the Day of Reckoning Allah will condone following anyone who is fully conversant with the orders of the Ahl-ul-Bayt and do not make interpretations with ulterior motives of worldly gains.