Question 298: I want to Ask why some people think that Shia Muslim are not Muslims??? Don’t we read the Quran and do Salah and give zakat??!! Or respect our parents? I just don’t understand why somebody ask me Are You Muslim??? Please make me understand!! I wanna ask if Shia is the only acceptable religion? Thanks
Answer 298: According to the Holy Quran, Islam is the last and the most complete of the revealed religions. In Quran Allah (SWT) says in this regards: “Verily, the only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam.[1] And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him.[2] But, Ummah of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) divided into different religions as the holy Prophet of Islam said:
“ان امّتی ستفرق بعدی علی ثلاث و سبعین فرقة، فرقة منها ناجیة، و اثنتان و سبعون فی النار”
My Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy-two will be in the Fire.[3]”
We know that there are many similarities between Shia and Sunni. For example, Sunni believe that if a person wants to become Muslim he/she is supposed to admit the two testimonies of faith. The two statements of “There is no God but Allah” and “Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, admitting to its meaning, resulting in that person officially becoming Muslim. But, the question is, despite Shia also believe in the two testimonies of faith why Sunni and others consider them as Kafir?
On the other hand the holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) said:
“ایها الناس انی ترکت فیکم ما ان اخذتم به لن تضلوا، کتاب الله و عترتی اهل بیتی”
“O People, I leave you two weighty things, if you stick to both you will never go astray after me: the Book of Allah and my progeny – the Ahlalbayt.[4]“
Abuzar Ghaffari, one of the trusted and honorable companions of the holy Prophet (pbuh) narrates:
“سمعت النبی (ص) انه قال: الا ان مثل اهل بیتی فیکم مثل سفینة نوح فی قومه، من رکبها نجی و من تخلف عنها غرق”
“The similitude of my Ahlalbayt amongst you is the same as that of Noah’s Ark amongst his tribe. Whoever boards it will be saved and he who avoided it will drown.[5]“
The pillars and principles of the Shia religion are belief in divine unity (tawhid), divine justice (adl), prophecy (nubuwwah), Imamat and resurrection (ma’ad). Shia believes in the leadership of the twelve infallible Imams (a.s.) as the successors of the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) the first of them being Ali (a.s.) and the last one Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance). In the traditions narrated from the Holy Prophet of Islam the number and names of the twelve Infallible Imams (a.s.) have been mentioned.[6]
There are other reasons proving that one of these seventy-three sects divided after the demise of the holy Prophet (pbuh) will be in Paradise and the others are in the hell. Shia is the only one mentioned in traditions narrated from the holy Prophet as the true Islam.[7]
Unfortunately, for the time being Islam is introduced to those who are eagerly wants to get familiar with the pure Islam from the perspective of non-Muslims countries who have undertaken the preparations and presentations of Islam. They are trying their best to misrepresent the pure Islam of the holy Prophet which has manifested itself in Shia only and show the incorrect image of Islam. Therefore, we as the Shia Muslims must propagandize the pure Islam, so that others can see the correct image of the pure Islam of the holy Prophet (pbuh). In Sha Allah.
For further information on this issue, please read the following answers:
Index: Shia is the true Islam of Prophet Muhammad sa, answer 383.
Index: Ask Islam: How to become a Muslim, answer 527.
Index: The differences and similarities between Shia and Sunni, answer 187.
Index: Principles of Religion: Usul al-Din in Quran, answer 230.
Index: Usul al-Din and Furu al-Din in Islam, answer 223.
[1] – Aal-e Imran: 19.
[2] – Aal-e Imran:85.
[3] – Al-Ebanah al-Kubra, Ibn-e Vol. 1, p.3; Khesal, p.585.
[4] – Kanzul Ummal, Vol.1, p.44, Babul E’tesam bil-Kitab Wassunnah.
[5] – Al-Mustadrak ‘Ala al-Sahehain, Vol.3, p.151
[6] . Refer to: answer 383 (Index: Shia is the true Islam of Prophet Muhammad sa).
[7] . Ibid.