What is the difference between Shiites and Sunnis table. How do Sunnis differ from Shiites?
The split of Muslims into Shiites and Sunnis did not happen yesterday. For thirteen centuries this division has existed in one of the most widespread world religions - Islam.
The reason for the emergence of two Muslim camps was, as prosaic as it may seem, not differences in beliefs, but political motives, namely the struggle for power.
The thing is that after the end of the reign of the last of the four caliphs, Ali, the question arose of who would take his place.
Some believed that only a direct descendant of the Prophet could become the head of the caliphate, who would inherit not only power, but also all his spiritual qualities, would honor traditions and become a worthy follower of his ancestors. They were called Shiites, which translated from Arabic means “the power of Ali.”
Others did not agree with the exclusive privilege of the blood followers of the Prophet. In their opinion, the head of the caliphate should be a member of the Muslim community elected by the majority. They explained their position with excerpts from the Sunnah, a book containing the words of the Prophet, as well as his followers. It was this appeal to the Sunnah that gave rise to the name “Sunnis”.
Spreading
Sunnism and Shiism are the largest branches of Islam. Moreover, there are approximately one billion and one hundred million Sunnis in the world, while there are only 110 million Shiites, which is only ten percent of world Islamism.
The majority of Shiites are in Azerbaijan, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon. Sunnism is common in most Muslim countries.
Places of pilgrimage
There is a legend that Caliph Ali and his son Hussein found peace in Najaf and Karbala, Iraq. This is where Shiites most often come to pray. Mecca and Medina, which are located in Saudi Arabia, became places of pilgrimage for Sunnis.
Mecca
Attitude to the Sunnah
There is an opinion that Shiites differ from Sunnis in that the former do not recognize the Sunnah. However, this opinion is wrong. Shiites respect the texts of the Sunnah, but only that part of it that comes from members of the Prophet's family. Sunnis also recognize the texts of the companions of Muhammad.
Performing rituals
In total, there are seventeen differences in the performance of rituals between Sunnis and Shiites, the main of which are the following:
- while reading a prayer, Shiites place a piece of clay slab on a special rug, which symbolizes their admiration for what was created not by man, but by God
- the second difference is contained in the text of the adhan. Shiites, when calling to prayer, add some phrases to the prescribed text, the essence of which is to recognize the caliphs as successors of God.
Cult of the Imam
Shiites are characterized by the cult of the imam, a spiritual leader who is a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. There is a legend that the twelfth Imam Muhammad disappeared in his adolescence under unexplained circumstances. No one has seen him since, either alive or dead. Shiites consider him alive and among people. It is he who will one day become a Muslim leader, a messiah who will be able to establish the Kingdom of God on the sinful earth and lead not only Muslims, but also Christians.
Conclusions website
- Sunnism is the largest branch of Islam, widespread in most Muslim countries.
- Shiites believe that the truth belongs only to the direct descendants of the Prophet Muhammad.
- Shiites are waiting for the messiah, who will appear in the person of the “hidden imam.”
- In addition to the Koran, Sunnis recognize the sunnah (traditions about the Prophet), and Shiites recognize akhbar (news about the Prophet).
Islam is divided into two major movements - Sunnism and Shiism. At the moment, Sunnis make up about 85–87% of Muslims, and the number of Shiites does not exceed 10%. About how Islam split into these two directions and how they differ.
WHEN AND WHY DID THE FOLLOWERS OF ISLAM SPLIT INTO SUNNIS AND SHIITES?
Muslims split into Sunnis and Shiites for political reasons. In the second half of the 7th century, after the end of the reign of Caliph Ali* in the Arab Caliphate**, disputes arose about who would take his place. The fact is that Ali was the son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad***, and some Muslims believed that power should pass to his descendants. This part began to be called “Shiites,” which translated from Arabic means “the power of Ali.” While other followers of Islam questioned the exclusive privilege of this kind and proposed that the majority of the Muslim community choose another candidate from the descendants of Muhammad, explaining their position with excerpts from the Sunnah - the second source of Islamic law after the Koran ****, which is why they began to be called “Sunnis” "
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES IN THE INTERPRETATION OF ISLAM BETWEEN SUNNIS AND SHIITES?
Sunnis recognize exclusively the Prophet Muhammad, while Shiites equally revere both Muhammad and his cousin Ali. Sunnis and Shiites choose the highest authority in different ways. Among the Sunnis, it belongs to elected or appointed clerics, and among the Shiites, the representative of the highest authority must be exclusively from the family of Ali.Imam. For Sunnis, this is the cleric who runs the mosque. For Shiites, this is the spiritual leader and descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Sunnis study the entire text of the Sunnah, and Shiites only that part of it that tells about Muhammad and members of his family. Shiites believe that one day the messiah will come in the person of the “hidden imam”. Can Sunnis and Shiites perform namaz and hajj together? Followers of different sects of Islam can perform namaz (daily five-fold recitation of prayers) together: this is actively practiced in some mosques. In addition, Sunnis and Shiites can perform a joint hajj - a pilgrimage to Mecca (the holy city of Muslims in western Saudi Arabia).
Which countries have large Shia communities?
Most followers of Shiism live in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon and Yemen.
*Ali ibn Abu Talib - an outstanding political and public figure; cousin, son-in-law of the Prophet Muhammad; the first imam in the Shiite teachings.
**The Arab Caliphate is an Islamic state that arose as a result of Muslim conquests in the 7th–9th centuries. It was located on the territory of modern Syria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, southern Transcaucasia, Central Asia, northern Africa and southern Europe.
***Prophet Muhammad (Muhammad, Magomed, Mohammed) is a preacher of monotheism and prophet of Islam, the central figure in the religion after Allah.
****The Koran is the holy book of Muslims.
SETTLEMENT OF SHIITES AND SUNNIS
The vast majority of Muslims on the planet are Sunnis. Antipathy between communities within Islam is more common than between Islam itself and other religious beliefs and their adherents. In some countries, theological and cultural differences between Sunnis and Shiites have led to violence. London-based Jane magazine writes that Shiites are in the majority in Azerbaijan, Iran and Bahrain. In Iraq, Shiites make up more than half the population. In Saudi Arabia, Shiites are already only about 10 percent. The predominance of Sunnis is observed in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. In India, with a total population of over one billion, the vast majority of Muslims belong to the Sunni community.
HISTORY OF THE ISSUE
After the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 AD, there was disagreement among his followers over who should succeed him. Those who were inclined to the idea of electing a successor through the consent obtained in the Caliphate began to be called Sunnis. The minority preferred to see the successor of the Prophet Muhammad chosen by family kinship with the prophet. They chose the prophet's cousin Ali as their imam. This minority became known as Shia Ali, that is, a group of supporters of Imam Ali. In 680, in Karbala in Iraq, the son of Imam Ali, Hussein, was killed by Sunnis, and this further exacerbated the contradictions between Sunnis and Shiites. Disagreements between Shia and Sunni Islam are reflected on all aspects of Islamic law. In countries with significant and influential Muslim populations, these differences influence government laws, especially those related to family and society. This not only leads to debate, but in many cases leads to repression by ruling elites who seek
MAIN DIFFERENCES
The Islamic code of laws, regardless of the practice of Sunnis or Shiites, is based on the Koran, sunnahs (the customs of the Prophet Mohammed), correlating with hadiths (statements of the Prophet and his supporters), jiyas (similarities, analogues) and the concept of “ijtihad” (personal conclusions). It is from From them grows Islamic law (Sharia), which is not systematized, but is interpreted by a council of competent individuals (Ulemah). The sources of interpretation of Islamic law (Sharia) do not differentiate between Shia and Sunni Islam. But the differences between the two sects arise as a consequence of the interpretation of the hadiths (the sayings of the Prophet and his companions). In the case of the Shiites, the sayings of the imams are included in the interpretation. In Shiite Islam, imams are not just leaders of prayers, but also bearers of supernatural knowledge and holders of undeniable authority. This is the main reason for their differences with the Sunnis.
MARRIAGE ISSUES
The differences in Sunni and Shiite interpretations of Islamic law - Sharia - have become even more striking. As British magazine Jane notes, this has often led and continues to lead to violence in South Asia and the Middle East. The site of a car bomb explosion near a Sunni mosque in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk. May 12, 2009.
The power of each of the major sects of Islam in the countries of this region has often created problems affecting Islamic law. For example, Shiites do not adhere to the Sunni rule of considering a divorce as valid from the moment the husband declares it. In turn, Sunnis do not accept the Shia practice of temporary marriage. In India in 2005, Shiites refused to follow orders emanating from the All India Muslim Council in matters of marriage, divorce and inheritance. Shiites said the Council, which had a Sunni majority, was biased in its decisions towards Sunni interpretations of marriage issues.
GROWING CONFRONTATION
The Iranian Revolution of 1979 raised alarm about the possible spread of Shia influence in the Persian Gulf and Pakistan. British magazine Jane emphasized that in their harsh interpretations of the Koran, Wahhabis call for action against non-believers and especially Shiites, whom they consider outright heretics. Saudi Arabia vigorously supported Sunni doctrine with generous subsidies from local leaders such as Pakistani President Muhammad Zia ul-Haq, with the goal of countering Shia influence by expanding the network of Islamic schools - madrassas. The Saudis sought to ensure that these schools sympathized with Sunni Islam and supported its Wahhabi interpretation. The actions were an obvious success. The rapid growth of Sunni radicalism contributed to the recruitment of fighters for the resistance movement in Afghanistan against the Soviet occupation. This later galvanized the Taliban and supporters of Osama bin Laden. So state leaders are already faced with the need to find ways in which both communities - both Sunni and Shiite - can function normally and coexist peacefully.
Conflicts between Shiites and Sunnis still occur, but nowadays they are more often of a political nature. With rare exceptions (Iran, Azerbaijan, Syria), in countries inhabited by Shiites, all political and economic power belongs to Sunnis. The Shiites feel offended, their discontent is taken advantage of by radical Islamic groups, Iran and Western countries, which have long mastered the science of pitting Muslims against each other and supporting radical Islam for the sake of the “victory of democracy.” Shiites actively fought for power in Lebanon, and last year they rebelled in Bahrain, protesting against the usurpation of political power and oil revenues by the Sunni minority. In Iraq, after the armed intervention of the United States, the Shiites came to power, and a civil war began in the country between them and their former owners, the Sunnis. , and the secular regime gave way to obscurantism. In Syria, the situation is the opposite - power there belongs to the Alawites, one of the directions of Shiism. Under the pretext of fighting the dominance of the Shiites in the late 70s, the terrorist group “Muslim Brotherhood” launched a war against the ruling regime; in 1982, the rebels captured the city of Hama. The rebellion was crushed and thousands of people died. Now the war has resumed - but only now, as in Libya, the bandits are called rebels, they are openly supported by all progressive Western humanity, led by the United States.
In the former USSR, Shiites live mainly in Azerbaijan. In Russia they are represented by the same Azerbaijanis, as well as a small number of Tats and Lezgins in Dagestan. There are no serious conflicts in the post-Soviet space yet. Most Muslims have a very vague idea of the difference between Shiites and Sunnis, and Azerbaijanis living in Russia, in the absence of Shiite mosques, often visit Sunni ones. In 2010, there was a conflict between the chairman of the presidium of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the European part of Russia, the chairman of the Council of Muftis of Russia, the Sunni Ravil Gainutdin and the head of the Caucasus Muslims Office, Shiite Allahshukur Pashazade. The latter was accused of being a Shiite, and the majority of Muslims in Russia and the CIS are Sunnis, therefore, a Shiite should not rule the Sunnis. The Council of Muftis of Russia frightened Sunnis with “Shiite revenge” and accused Pashazade of working against Russia, supporting Chechen militants, having too close relations with the Russian Orthodox Church and oppressing Sunnis in Azerbaijan. In response, the Caucasus Muslim Board accused the Mufti Council of attempting to disrupt the Interreligious Summit in Baku and of inciting discord between Sunnis and Shiites.
Experts believe that the roots of the conflict lie in the founding congress of the CIS Muslim Advisory Council in Moscow in 2009, at which Allahshukur Pashazade was elected head of a new alliance of traditional Muslims. The initiative was highly praised by the Russian President, and the Council of Muftis, which demonstratively boycotted it, was a loser. Western intelligence agencies are also suspected of inciting the conflict.
Recently, Islam has turned from the second world religion into a real ideology. Its influence is so strong that many consider it one of the most important factors in politics. At the same time, this religion is quite heterogeneous, and serious conflicts often arise between its supporters. Therefore, it will be useful to understand the differences between Sunnis and Shiites, the two main branches of Islam. Their names are mentioned quite often in the news, and at the same time, most of us have a very vague idea about these currents.
Sunnis
Adherents of this trend in Islam got their name due to the fact that the main thing for us is the “sunna” - a set of foundations and rules based on the actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. This source explains complex moments from the Koran and is a kind of addition to it. This is the key difference between Sunnis and Shiites. Let us note that this direction is dominant in Islam. In some cases, following the “sunna” takes on fanatical, extreme forms. An example is the Afghan Taliban, who paid special attention not only to the type of clothing, but also to the length of the beard of men.
Shiites
This direction of Islam allows for free interpretation of the prophet's instructions. However, not everyone has the right to this, but only a select few. The differences between Sunnis and Shiites also include the fact that the latter are considered more radical, their religious processions have a certain drama. This branch of Islam is the second in size and importance, and the name of its supporters means “adherents.” But the differences between Sunnis and Shiites do not end there. The latter are often called “Ali’s party.” This is due to the fact that after the death of the prophet, a dispute arose regarding who should transfer power. According to the Shiites, Ali bin Abi, a student of Muhammad and his closest relative, was to become the caliph. The schism occurred almost immediately after the death of the prophet. After this, a war began, during which Ali was killed in 661. Later, his sons, Hussein and Hassan, also died. Moreover, the death of the first of them, which happened in 680, is still perceived by Shiites as a historical tragedy for all Muslims. In memory of this event, supporters of this movement still hold emotional funeral processions, during which procession participants beat themselves with sabers and chains.
What else are the differences between Sunnis and Shiites?
Ali's party believes that power in the caliphate should be returned to the imams - as they call Ali's direct descendants. Because Shiites believe that sovereignty is essentially divine, they reject the very possibility of elections. According to their ideas, imams are a kind of intermediaries between Allah and people. In contrast, Sunnis believe that Allah himself should be worshiped directly, and therefore the concept of intermediaries is alien to them. However, no matter how different the differences between these movements are, they are forgotten during the Hajj. The pilgrimage to Mecca is a major event that unites all Muslims, regardless of their differences in faith.
With conflicts in the Arab world being the focus of media attention lately, the terms “Shia” and “Sunni,” meaning the two main branches of Islam, are now very familiar to many non-Muslims. At the same time, not everyone understands how some differ from others. Let us consider the history of these two directions of Islam, their differences and the areas of distribution of their followers.
Like all Muslims, Shiites believe in the messenger mission of the Prophet Muhammad. This movement has political roots. After the death of the prophet in 632, a group of Muslims formed who believed that power in the community should belong exclusively to his descendants, to whom they included his cousin Ali ibn Abu Talib and his children from Muhammad's daughter Fatima. At first, this group was only a political party, but over the course of centuries, the original political differences between Shiites and other Muslims strengthened, and it grew into an independent religious and legal movement. Shiites now make up about 10-13% of the world's 1.6 billion Muslims and recognize Ali's authority as the divinely appointed caliph, believing that imams with legitimate divine knowledge can only come from among his descendants.
According to the Sunnis, Muhammad did not appoint a successor, and after his death the community of Arab tribes, which he had recently converted to Islam, was on the verge of collapse. Muhammad's followers quickly chose his successor themselves, appointing Abu Bakr, one of Muhammad's closest friends and father-in-law, as caliph. Sunnis believe that the community has the right to choose its caliph from among its best representatives.
According to some Shia sources, many Muslims believe that Muhammad appointed Ali, his daughter's husband, as his successor. The division began around that moment - those who supported Ali, rather than Abu Bakr, became Shiites. The name itself comes from the Arabic word meaning “party” or “adherents”, “followers”, or more precisely, “Ali’s party”.
Sunnis consider the four first caliphs to be righteous - Abu Bakr, Umar ibn al-Khattab, Uthman ibn Affan and Ali ibn Abu Talib, who held this position from 656 to 661.
The founder of the Umayyad dynasty, Muawiya, who died in 680, appointed his son Yazid as caliph, turning the rule into a monarchy. Ali's son, Hussein, refused to swear allegiance to the Umayyad house and tried to oppose it. On October 10, 680, he was killed in Iraqi Karbala in an unequal battle with the troops of the caliph. After the death of the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, the Sunnis further strengthened their political power, and the adherents of the Ali clan, although they rallied around the martyr Hussein, significantly lost ground.
At least 40% of Sunnis in most Middle Eastern countries believe Shiites are not true Muslims, according to Pew Research. Meanwhile, Shiites accuse Sunnis of excessive dogmatism, which can become fertile ground for Islamic extremism.
Differences in religious practice
In addition to the fact that Shiites perform 3 prayers a day, and Sunnis - 5 (although both say 5 prayers), there are differences between them in the perception of Islam. Both branches are based on the teachings of the Holy Quran. The second most important source is the Sunnah, the sacred tradition that sets forth examples of the life of the Prophet Muhammad as a model and guide for all Muslims, known as hadith. Shia Muslims also consider the words of imams as hadith.
One of the main differences between the ideologies of the two sects is that Shiites consider imams to be intermediaries between Allah and the believers, inheriting virtues through divine command. For Shiites, the imam is not just the spiritual leader and chosen one of the prophet, but his representative on Earth. Therefore, Shiites not only perform pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca, but also to the graves of 11 of the 12 imams, who are considered holy (the 12th Imam Mahdi is considered “hidden”).
Sunni Muslims do not hold imams in such reverence. In Sunni Islam, the imam runs the mosque or is the leader of the Muslim community.
The five pillars of Sunni Islam are declaration of faith, prayer, fasting, charity and pilgrimage.
Shiism has five main pillars - monotheism, belief in divine justice, belief in prophets, belief in Imamate (divine leadership), belief in the Day of Judgment. The 10 other pillars include the ideas contained in the five Sunni pillars, including prayers, fasting, hajj, and so on.
Shia crescent
The majority of Shiites live in Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Bahrain, making up the so-called “Shiite Crescent” on the world map.
A Brief List of the Differences Between Sunnis and Shiites
Let's look at the SUNNIS first
They unanimously consider it true and protected from any additions or subtractions. They understand it in accordance with the basics of the Arabic language, they believe in every letter of it, and they believe that it is the word of Allah Almighty, neither appeared nor created, and that no lie can approach it either from the front or from behind. It is the first source for all beliefs and attitudes of Muslims.
This is the second Sharia source that explains the Qur'an, and one cannot contradict the norms contained in any hadith transmitted from the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) in an authentic way. The authenticity of hadiths is verified in accordance with the principles on which the Muslim community's scholars agree in the science of hadith terminology, namely: through the study of isnad, regardless of the gender of the transmitters - these differences are taken into account only as regards the testimony of reliable people. Each transmitter has its own history and certain, well-known hadiths, both reliable and those whose reliability has been questioned. The Muslims achieved this through the most painstaking work that history has ever known. Hadiths transmitted by liars and unknown persons are not accepted. Family ties or family affiliation of any kind also cannot serve as a basis for accepting hadith, because this is the greatest responsibility that is higher than any such factors.
Companions
They unanimously respect the Companions and when mentioning them they say: “May Allah be pleased with them.” They attribute the disagreements that took place between the companions to the ijtihads that they did, being sincere, and all this is in the past and we do not have the right to grow on the basis of these events the anger passed on from generation to generation. Companions are those whom Allah has spoken of better than any other community. He praised them in many places in His Book and especially justified some of them, so that no one has the right to accuse them after this acquittal, and these accusations cannot bring any good to anyone.
Monotheism
They believe that Allah is the Only One, the All-Conquering, and He has no partners, no equals or likes to Him, and there are no intermediaries between Him and His slaves. And they believe in the verses that mention the Qualities of Allah as they were revealed, without interpreting them, without denying them, and without likening the Qualities of Allah to the qualities of creation: “There is nothing like Him...”. And they believe that He sent messengers and commissioned them to convey His message, and they delivered it without holding anything back. And they believe that the unseen is known only to Allah, and that it will be possible to intercede before Allah only if certain conditions are met: “Who will intercede before Him except with His permission.” And they believe that prayer, vow, sacrifice and aspiration can only be dedicated to Him, the Most High, and cannot be dedicated to anyone else. And only He owns good and evil, and no one can have power or command contrary to His will, whether living or dead. Everyone without exception needs His mercy. And the knowledge of Allah, as they believe, should be carried out through the Sharia and the verses of Allah before the mind, because the mind may not come to the right conclusions on its own, and only then a person must reflect, using his mind and finding peace.
Is it possible to see Allah?
Allah can be seen only in the eternal world, since the Almighty Himself said: “Some faces on that day will shine and look at their Lord.”
Secret
Only Allah Almighty knows the unseen, and He revealed something of the unseen to His prophets, including Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) for certain purposes: “They comprehend from His knowledge only what He wishes.”
According to the most correct opinion, these are all his followers professing the Islamic religion. They are also said to be God-fearing members of his community. They also say that these are his believing relatives from among Banu Hashim and Banu ‘Abd al-Muttalib.
Sharia and truth
They believe that Sharia is the truth, and that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not hide anything from his community of knowledge, and there is no good that he did not point out to them, and there is no evil from which he didn't warn them. And Allah Almighty said: “Today I have completed your religion for you.” The sources of religion are the Qur'an and Sunnah, and they do not need any additions, since how one should act, worship and maintain contact with Allah is quite clear and understandable without any intermediaries. And only Allah knows the truth about His servants and one cannot whitewash anyone in defiance of Allah. And from the words of all people, some are accepted and some are rejected, except for the infallible Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam).
Ahlyu-s-Sunnah strictly adheres to the norms established by the Qur'an. These norms are explained by the words and actions of the Messenger, recorded in the most pure Sunnah. They also rely on the words of the Companions and their reliable followers, because their era was closest to the era of the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and they were the most sincere towards him. And no one has the right to establish new laws in religion after Allah has completed it. However, in new, emerging issues and circumstances and in what the Shariah does not talk about in detail, one should turn to reliable Muslim scholars who make decisions solely within the framework of the Qur'an and Sunnah.
Loyalty
Absolute submission is implied. They believe that such obedience can only be in relation to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), because Allah Almighty said: “Whoever is submissive to the Messenger is submissive to Allah.” As for all other people, loyalty towards them is limited by the Shariah, since there cannot be obedience to the creation in what is disobedience to the Creator.
This implies hiding true beliefs and demonstrating others in order to avoid evil. They believe that it is not permissible for a Muslim to deceive Muslims with words or appearance, since the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “He who deceives us is not among us.” Concealing true beliefs and demonstrating others is permitted only in relation to unbelieving enemies of religion and only during war, since war is a trick. A Muslim must be truthful and courageous when it comes to the truth, and not do anything for show, not lie or act treacherously, but give good advice, encourage him to do what Islam approves and deter him from what it condemns.
The state must be ruled by a caliph who is elected from among the Muslims. The main requirement for a caliph is suitability for the position held, that is, he must be reasonable, prudent, knowledgeable, known for his righteousness and honesty and the ability to bear such responsibility. He is chosen by the most worthy and prudent representatives of the Muslim community. And they remove him if he ceases to meet the necessary conditions or goes against the rulings of the Koran and Sunnah. All Muslims are obliged to obey him. They see ruling as a burden and responsibility rather than an honor and a trophy.
And now onto the SHIITES
Some question its veracity. Finding in it contradictions to their beliefs, they give these verses strange interpretations so that they are consistent with their madhhab. Therefore they were called Muta'awwilits or "interpreters." They like to point out the disagreements that arose at the beginning of the written record, and cite the words of their imams, taken from their recognized Sharia sources.
They rely only on the reports traced back to Ahl al-Bayt, and some reports from those who participated in Ali's political battles on his side, and reject everything else. They do not pay attention to the isnad of the message and scientific methods, and often say for example: “From Muhammad ibn Ismail from one of our comrades from another person, what he said...”. Their books are filled with tens of thousands of messages, the authenticity of which is impossible to verify, and on these messages they base their religion. At the same time, they rejected more than three-quarters of the Sunnah of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). And this is one of the most important differences between them and Muslims.
Companions
Shiites believe that the Companions became unbelievers after the death of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), with the exception of a few (they can be counted on the fingers of two hands). They give Ali a special place. Some of them consider him the successor of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), others consider him a prophet, and others consider him God. And they judge Muslims by their attitude towards Ali. They consider those who were elected rulers before Ali to be oppressors or unbelievers. And anyone who contradicts his opinion is an oppressor, an unbeliever or a wicked person. The same is the case with those who contradicted his descendants. Thus, they created a huge meanness in history and filled it with hostility and slander, and Shiism turned into a historical school that carried this harmful teaching through many generations.
Monotheism
They believe in Allah Almighty and His Oneness, but these beliefs are mixed with actions that are shirk. They make supplications not only to Allah, but also to His servants and say: “O ‘Ali!”, “O Husayn!”, “O Zeinab!” and make vows and make sacrifices other than Allah and make requests to the dead. They have many prayers and verses that can serve as confirmation of this. They use them in their worship and consider their imams to be infallible and attribute to them knowledge of the sacred and the ability to control the Universe. It was the Shiites who invented Sufism to establish these distorted concepts. They believe that the righteous (awliya), the “saints” and Ahlul-Bayt have special powers. They instill in their followers the concept of class within a religion and the transfer of position by inheritance. All this has no basis in religion. Their knowledge of Allah should be carried out with the help of reason, and not Sharia, and what is mentioned in the Koran is just a confirmation of the conclusions that reason makes, and not something fundamentally new.
Is it possible to see Allah?
Allah cannot be seen either in this world or in the hereafter.
Secret
They claim that secret knowledge is the exclusive right of their imams, and even the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) does not have the right to report something from the secret. Therefore, some deify these imams.
Family of the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)
This is only his son-in-law 'Ali and some of 'Ali's sons, as well as their children and grandchildren.
Sharia and truth
They believe that Shariah is the norm brought by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and concerns exclusively ordinary people and those who have only superficial knowledge of religion. And the truth (or special knowledge about Allah) is granted exclusively to the imams of Ahlul-Bayt (that is, only to some members of the family of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam)), and they receive knowledge by inheritance - it is passed on from generation to generation and they keep it in secret. And imams are infallible and all their actions are divine law. And all their actions are permissible, and communication with Allah can be maintained only through intermediaries, who are imams. Therefore, they come up with names and titles for themselves that indicate excessive exaltation of themselves, for example: “waliyullah” (closer of Allah), “babullah” (the gate of Allah), “ma’sum” (infallible), “hujatullah” (the argument of Allah) and so on.
They rely on specific sources that they attribute to their imams (several specific ones), as well as on the interpretations that they gave to the verses of Allah. At the same time, they deliberately contradict the majority of representatives of the Muslim community. They also believe that their infallible mujtahid imams have the right to establish new norms, which is what actually happened. Thus, new standards were established regarding:
Azan, times of prayer, and method of performing it.
Time to begin fasting and breaking the fast.
Actions of Hajj and other pilgrimages (ziyara).
Some questions about zakat and those to whom zakat is given.
Loyalty
They consider loyalty one of the pillars of their faith. For them it is faith in imams (including the one who lives in the basement). And the one who is not loyal to Ahlul-Bayt is not called a believer; prayer cannot be performed under his leadership, nothing from the obligatory zakat can be given to him, but ordinary alms can be given to him as an unbeliever.
Despite the differences between Shia groups, they all consider this a duty, without which the madhhab cannot exist. They learn the basics of it secretly and openly and put it into practice, especially when they find themselves in difficult circumstances - they begin to overly praise those whom they actually consider unbelievers who deserve to be killed and destroyed. They consider anyone who does not follow their madhhab to be an unbeliever. They apply the principle “The end justifies the means.” Taqiyya allows Shiites any form of lies, intrigues and hypocrisy.
Imamate or government
Their power is inherited from ‘Ali and the sons of Fatima (there are disagreements between Shiite groups regarding specific individuals). For this reason, they are never sincerely loyal to rulers who do not fall into the above category. And since their theory did not materialize in history as they expected, they added the theory of return to this world (raj'a), which consists in the assertion that at the end of time their last imam, called the Primate (al- Qaim) and, emerging from his basement, will destroy all his political opponents and return to the Shiites their rights, usurped by other groups for many centuries.