Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences,

Department of Usl al-Dn and Comparative Religion

Contemporary Religious Moral Issues

RKUD 4111
Semester 1 2013/2014

SHIITE STANDS ON PROPHETHOOD (Nubwwah)

Prepared by :
Aqilah binti Misland

(1118532) 013-6396026

Farhanah binti Abdullah (1110506) 013-6402473

Prepared for :
Dr. Che Amnah binti Bahari

Table of Contents

Introduction

Additional phrase in shahdat &

adhn..

The concept of prophethood and noble mission of the Prophet. 9

View of Shiite on Prophetic Hadith...

12

Imamate and Prophethood 14

Infallibility of Prophets.. 16
The Ghults Trinity

22

Conclusion... 26
References...

28

Introduction
All praise belongs to Allah the Almighty, the Lord of universe and blessing and peace be
upon the final prophet and messenger, Prophet Muhammad, his faithful companions who strive
for the glory of Islam, and also those who follow his footsteps till the end of this world. Thank
you to our lecturer, Dr. Che Amnah for giving advices, supports and supervises our work in this
topic for the sake of Ummah.
As we know believing Prophets is the second pillar of imn. It is very important to
Muslim because any action neglecting of it or refuse to accept this belief will affect the imn.
Shiite which is considered by some scholars as a new religion or new sect has different
interpretation and understanding in the concept of prophethood. Thats why we choose this topic
to have clear understanding and view on this issue.
Through discussion, we get to know the Shiite shahdah and Shiite explanation about the
mission of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and know how they support their beliefs
and teachings. We will discover Shiite viewpoints on trinity concept. We can see how Shiite
twisted and fabricated Qurn and hadth, they elevated their Imams and humiliated our
Prophets as they wanted to support their deviant belief.
We have six topics in this assignment. These topics which are additional phrase in
shahdah and adhn, the Ghults Trinity, the concept of prophethood and noble mission of the
Prophets, view of Shiite on Prophetic hadith, imamate and prophethood, and the last one is the
infallibility of Prophets.
After completing this assignment, we can be able to compare the differences between
Shiite and Sunnite stands in this issue. We learn that the pillars of Islam in Shiite belief are
3

different from Sunnite. As Muslims, we must expose and show how the belief of Shiite deviated
from the true Islamic teachings. Through this exposure we will be more firm and protect our
imn from being affected by deviant teachings.
We hope this small effort will benefit others especially Muslim in Malaysia. May Allah
guide us in this world and enter all of us in Paradise in hereafter.

1.

Additional phrase in shahdat and adhn

4

Reciting a shahdat is the crucial and vital action to become a Muslim. There is a video
in YouTube that shows shahdat in Shiite.1 This video shows one shakh named Yasser al-Habib
who is a Shiite scholar from Kuwait teaching a young man and helping him to say his shahdat.2
There are a lot of additional phrases in the shahdat. It can be seen as follows:

I testify there is no God except Allah

He is the only one, no any allies

No sameness with others

I testify Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

And I testify him as a leader of Prophets, the seal of Prophets and the best creation

And I testify mrul Mminn Ali as a waly (saint) of Allah

1

Syahadat Syiah, accessed November 3, 2013.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BCVPDvkzTc
2
Yasser Al-Habib, accessed December 9, 2013
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Al-Habib

And I testify Fatimah al-Zahra and her son are infallible as the argument of God

And I testify Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, Aisyah, and Hafsah at the hell

Im refraining myself and left it to God and His messenger.

We refer to second hadith of Imam Nawawi regarding Islam, Imn & Ihsn as follows,
Also on the authority of Omar, who said :
One day while we were sitting with the messenger of Allah there appeared before us
a man whose clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly
black; no signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He
walked up and sat down by the prophet. Resting his knees against his and placing
the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said: "O Muhammad, tell me about Islam".
The messenger of Allah said: "Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah, to perform the prayers, to pay the zakat, to
fast in Ramadan, and to make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to do so."
He said: "You have spoken rightly," and we were amazed at him asking him and
saying that he had spoken rightly...3

An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths(Translation), accessed November 3, 2013.

http://www.iium.edu.my/deed/hadith/other/hadithnawawi.html#hadith2

In this hadith, Prophet Muhammad told the meaning of Islam is to testify Allah is the
only God and Prophet Muhammad as the messenger of Allah. There was no addition in the
hadith to acknowledge Ali as a waly and cursed the companions and wives of the Prophet.
Maybe it does not seem a big problem because they still believe in the oneness of Allah. But with
this addition, it gives some bad effects and consequences to Shiite itself. It will lead to fanaticism
and deify their Imams without realizing that. It happened in some sects of Shiite. The only reason
for this is the changes of their shahdat.
Shiite adding phrase after in adhn. It can be
traced in history that this phrase was added in adhn officially as an order of Shah Ismail AlSofawi to madhin.4 It gave the proper place for Ali after the witness to Prophet Muhammad in
caliphate.
There were scholars who did not object to this addition in adhn. They said that the
three shahdat here was not part of prayer (olat), so it was not wrong to put it in adhn.5 They
also argued that it was the image (shir) of Shiite. They used an argument the phrase
or known as taswb which did not even exist at the time of Prophet, it was Umar at his
time who added it.6 They used this argument to make their action permissible. They only referred
to one hadith from Mwatt regarding Umar said to madhn to use taswb in adhn.7 It was
reported by Malik that at the time of Umar, one madhn wanted to call out the adhn and saw

Mus al-Musw, Al-Shah wa al-Tashh: Al-Sir bana al-Shah wa al-tashy (1978), p.

104.
5
Ibid, p.104.
6
Ibid. p. 105.
7
b Al-Jaz, Benarkah Umar bin al-Khattab Membuat-buat Lafadh Tatswib dalam Adzan
Shubuh?, accessed November 4, 2013.
http://abul-jauzaa.blogspot.com/2009/05/benarkah-umar-bin-al-khaththab-membuat.html

Umar was sleeping at that time. So he used al-olat kharn mn al-nam, then Umar told the
madhn to put it in adhn.8
But their argument that taswb did not even exist at the time of Prophet Muhammad and
Abu Bakr was totally wrong because there were hadith from Abu Mahzurah, Bilal and Anas
about taswb. In the book of adhn and its sunnh in Sunan Ibnu Mjah, there was a hadith
reported by Salim on his fathers authority,
Zuhri said that Bilal made the addition of (these words) to the adhn
announcing for the ubh prayer: the prayer is better than sleep. The Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him) confirmed these words.9 In the same book, there was also
another hadith reported by Bilal to have said, He came to the Holy Prophet, to
inform him of the fajr (dawn) prayer. He was told that he was sleeping. Thereupon
he said, The prayer is better than sleep. Then, those (words) were affirmed in the
adhn of fajr prayer. Then the order remained in force in the same way.10
According to al-Zawaid, its authorities were authentic but there were flaws in the isnd
which is inqt. Shiite took some part of the hadith to suit with their condition and neglected
the other part of hadith which contradicted with their stand. In Muwatt itself, even though it
showed an evidence that Umar told the madhn to use taswb in ubh adhn, Imam Malik also
mentioned some hadith reported by Abu Mahzurah and Bilal regarding the using of taswb in
the time of Prophet Muhammad.

Taquddn an-Nadw, Muwatt Imam Malik, (India Muzaffar Pur: Al-Jamiah al-Islamiah,
1999), vol 1, p. 355-357.
9
b bd Allah Muhammad bin Yzid Ibn Mjah al-Qazwn, Sunan Ibn Majh, (New Delhi:
Kitab Bhavan, 1994), vol1, p. 386.
10
Ibid, p. 394.

It can be seen that taswb existed at the time of Prophet and it was not an addition made
by Umar. So their argument that Ali as a waly as an addition in adhn like Umar did is not
valid.

2. The concept of prophethood and noble mission of the Prophet

The belief in Imamate of Ali is the most important part of Shiite belief. They claimed that
only when they testified that Ali is the divinely designated imn, their faith is completed and
accepted. The five pillars of Shiite according to sayings of Imam Baqar: Islam is based on five
pillars; Prayer, Fasting, Pilgrimage, Poor-due and Imamate. The most preferred one among
those is the belief in Imamate.11 Besides, they claimed that the entire Quran was revealed to
glorify the name of Ali.
Madrassa Immyh states Shiite concept of Imamate as follows:
Shiite religious literature abundantly clarifies the fact that Shiites believe in the
continuation of Nubwwh after Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The
only cover presented by Shiite for this Kufr belief is a name, viz., Imam. Instead of
calling the one they believed to be a Prophet or Nab or Rasl, they describe him
as an Imam, and instead of saying Nubwwh they say Imamate. But, in terms of
Shiite religion there is absolutely no difference between a Nab and a Shiite
Imam.12
Next, we will discuss how their belief in Imamate make the concept of prophethood and
noble mission Muhammad (peace be upon him) deviated from the truth. Lets look in the Srat
al-Midah verse 3:
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My blessings upon you
and have approved for you Islam as religion...13

11

Ahmad Abdullah Salamah. Shia & Sunni Perspective on Islam. (Saudi Arabia Jeddah:
Abul- Qasim Publication House, 1991),p. 2.
12
Imamate; Divine guide in Islam, Chapter Two: Defining the concept of Imamate, accessed
December 10, 2013
http://www.shiapen.com/comprehensive/imamate/defining-concept.html
13
Srat al-Midah: 3

10

Many commentators of Qurn agreed that this verse was revealed when the Prophet
Muhammad gave his famous Farewell Address of Pilgrimage. This verse showed the completion
of Allahs blessings and indicated that the Prophet has completed his mission and might not stay
any longer.
From Tafsr bnu Kathr, it is said :
This, indeed is the biggest favor from Allah to this Ummah, for He had completed their
religion for them, and they, thus, do not need any other religion or any other Prophet
except Muhammad. This is why Allah made Muhammad the Final Prophet and sent him
to all humans and Jinn. Therefore, the permissible is what he allows, the impermissible is
what he prohibits, the Law is what he legislates and everything that he conveys are true
and authentic and do not contain lies or contradiction.14
However, the Shiite commentators told a different explanation of this verse. They stated
that the Prophet was returning from his last pilgrimage and stopped at a place called Ghadr alKhum. Then Jibrl brought this immediate command to him:
O Messenger, announce that what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do
not, then you have not conveyed His message. And Allah will protect you from the people.
Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.15
They claimed Prophet Muhammad ordered the people to stop and gather. Then, the
Prophet proclaimed that Ali (R) was his brother, his successor and Imam after him. When the
declaration of Ali was over, then Allah revealed this verse, This day I have perfected for you

14

Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Abdul Rahman bin Ishaq al Syaikh. Tafsr Ibn Kathr.
(Pustaka Imam Syafie, 2009), Vol 3, p. 18.
15
Srat al-Midah: 67

11

your religion and completed My blessings upon you and have approved for you Islam as a
religion. 16
From Shiite interpretation, it was the nomination of Ali as Imamate that completed
Allahs blessings upon the believers and thus made Islam acceptable to Allah. If the Prophet had
not delivered the message, his mission was incomplete. The mission of the Prophet was only to
establish the Imamate of Ali. The mission of the Prophet was completed on that day because of
the declaration of Ali to Imamate. Thus this is what made the perfect religion and Allahs
blessings. The mission and prophethood of Muhammad was incomplete unless it was
supplemented by Imamate.
It was supported by the sayings of Shiite. For example, Prophet Muhammad was only
sent to the people to deliver about Alis nomination to Imamate. If there was no duty of the
problem of Wilyah Ali, then all his deeds will be wasted. 17 And another one is as reported asaduq in al-Aml, that the Prophet Muhammad said to Ali: if I was not assigned to deliver
about your nomination to Imamate, then all my deeds will be a waste.18
This interpretation from Shiite was rejected by Sunni. Both the missions of the Prophet
Muhammad and the approval of Islam did not relate with Imamate. The prophethood is the
independent and perfect institution that does not need Imamate backing.

3.

View of Shiite on Prophetic Hadith

16

Srat al-Midah: 3
Ihsan Ilahi Dhahir. Tikaman Syiah Terhadap Para Sahabat Nabi. (Pakistan - Lahore: Idarah
Turjuman As- Sunah, 1986), p. 302.
18
Ibid. p. 304.
17

12

The Shiites do not believe in most of the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad. They only
quoted some of the hadith and make alterations to the hadith so that the hadith is in line to their
beliefs. For all practical purposes, they also rejected the most authentic hadith and books written
by hl Sunnah wa al-Jamah scholars. For example, ahh al-Bukhri, Sahh Muslm, alMuwatt and many more.
They themselves have elevated sayings of their Imams to the level of the Prophet and
classified them as hadith. Their hadith is all the sayings of their twelve imams. From their
stands, the sayings of their twelve Imams are hadith and the Usl al-Kf is their Sahh alBukhr. Thus, their religion is based on their so called hadith by their Imams.
The Shiite book of Usl al-Kf contained 16,199 hadiths.19 It is the most
comprehensive and the most respected Shiite collection of hadith. The popular Shiite belief is
that not a single hadith in Usl al-Kf is incorrect.
For example, the widely altered Hadith quoted by Shiite scholars was, It is narrated by a
vast majority of people that the Prophet (peace be upon him), I am leaving amongst you two
weighty things. As long as you hold on to them, you will not go astray. These are; The Divine
Book and my family members (Ahll Bat). These twin things should not be separated until they
come to me at the (of Kathar on the Day of Judgment). 20
The above hadith is quoted to agree with their beliefs and support the right of Ali to
Imamate. Whereas the original hadith is the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, I am leaving
amongst you two weighty things. One of these is the Divine Book so hold on to it tightly and
seek guidance from it. He then exhorted them to follow the Holy Qurn. He then added, The
19
20

Ahmad Abdullah Salamah. Shia & Sunni Perspective on Islam. p. 70.

Ibid. p. 33.

13

second are my Ahll Bat. In regard to them, I ask that you keep Allah in mind; I ask that you
keep Allah in mind.21 It is reported by Sahh Muslim.
Next, we look at the two sayings from their sixth Shiite Imam. Imam Jaafar Sadiq said:
one who exposed something from our religion is like the one who intentionally kills us. 22 And
the other one, You belong to a religion that whosoever conceals it, Allah will bestow him and
whosoever reveals it, Allah will disgrace and humiliate him. These two sayings can be found in
Usl al-Kf.
The rejection of Shiite scholars towards Prophetic hadith indicates that they are no longer
share the same Islamic worldview with us. They have broken Islamic principle which is strongly
based on Qurn and Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad.

4. Imamate and Prophethood

According to Shiite belief, the mission, duties, virtues, and attributes of the Imams are
equal in rank to the Prophets.23 They stated that the Imams and the Prophets only differ in their
21

Ahmad Abdullah Salamah. Shia & Sunni Perspective on Islam. p. 34.

Ibid. p. 1.
23
Abu Bakar Jabir al-Jazairi & Said Hawwa. Syiah: Kesesatan dan Penyelewengan. (Kelantan:
Pustaka Aman Press Sdn. Bhd, 1990), p. 36.
22

14

titles, not in their characteristics. They claimed Prophets were at the same level with their Imams.
They claimed their Imams have boundless of power.
It was supported by the sayings of their Imam. Imam Raza said: Allah created us
with the best of stature and gave us the best of faces. He made us the trustees of the earth
and the heavens. We thus talk even to the trees. Allah is worshipped because of our prayers.
If we were not present, Allah will not be worshipped.24
Shiites also believed their Imams had equal position or higher rank than all angels and all
the Prophets including Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They mentioned these in their
Shiite hadith to support the position of their Imams.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to Ali, You possess a number of attributes
which even I do not possess. You have a wife like Fatima and I do not have one like
her. You have the progeny of sons whereas I do not have sons. Your mother in-law
is none but Khadija, whereas I do not have one like her. Your father in-law is none
but I, but I do not have one like yours and a noble man like Jafar is your brother,
whereas I do not have a brother.25
To elevate the ranking of their Imams over the Prophets, Khomeini also added in The
Islamic Government that one of the basic and essential beliefs of our religion is that the Imams
occupy such distinguished position that the highest rank angels and even the Prophets cannot
reach it.26
All those attributes of Shiite Imams excel Allahs highest rank angels and the chosen
Prophets. However, there is no hadith recorded claiming that the Prophet Muhammad ever made
24

Ahmad Abdullah Salamah. Shia & Sunni Perspective on Islam. p. 6.

Ibid. p. 7.
26
Ahmad Abdullah Salamah. Shia & Sunni Perspective on Islam. p. 6.
25

15

a single claim about attributes possessed by Ali. The Shiite claimed about superiority of Ali that
was much greater than the Prophet Muhammad.
In their blindly love for their Imams, they could do anything. To lift up the position of
their Imams, they could go to the extent of degrading the Prophets. They created a hadith which
was said by Imam Raza: The characteristics of the Prophets are keeping their bodies clean, use
of perfume, frequent sexual intercourse and having lots of women. 27
To conclude, they believed that the position of Imamate were higher than the Prophets
and Ali, the first Shiite Imam was superior to the Prophet Muhammad in his ranks and merits. In
Qurn, it is stated that there is no prophet after the Prophet Muhammad. He is the last Prophet
as mentioned in Srat al-Ahzab:
Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of
Allah and last of the prophet28

5. Infallibility (masm) of Prophets

27
28

Shiite view

Ibid. p. 6.
Srat Al- Ahzb: 40

16

The theologians of Shiites agreed with the doctrine of infallibility of Prophets. They tried
to relate this doctrine with their Imams.29 There were statements from Majls which connect
the relation between the infallibility of Prophets and Imams:
They are to be considered free from all sins, great or small. No sort of sin can be
attributed to them, no oversight or forgetfulness, and no mistakes in interpretation.
Neither are they to be thought of as having sinned before the time of their being
appointed Prophets, not even in their childhood. No one has objected to this
doctrine except Ibn Bbwahi and Shakh Muhammad ibn Walid, who had
maintained that God could allow them to forget something now and then, either for
his own purpose, or when it was something that was in no way essential to their
service. But all agreed that belief in the infallibility of the Prophets is one of the
necessary beliefs of the Shiite faith30
They also belief that Imam was free from all sins (whether is a great or small sin) from
the beginning of their life until their death. Ibn Babuwaihi and Shakh Muhammad Ibn Walid
also disagreed like before; there were times before the appointment as an Imam, their Imams
made mistakes. All Shiite groups agreed with this except Ismailites that recognized that there is
no limitation of infallibility of Imam.31 We can clearly see here both two arguments look alike,
and they claimed their Imams also infallible.
In order to establish the claims of their Imam as infallible, they referred to Srat AlBaqarah, verse 124. And [mention, O Muhammad], when Abraham was tried by his Lord with
commands and he fulfilled them. [ Allah ] said, "Indeed, I will make you a leader for the people."
29

Dwight M.Donaldson, The Shiite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak (London:
Luzac & Company, 1983), p. 320.
30
Ibid. p 320-321.
31
Dwight M.Donaldson, The Shiite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak. p. 322.

17

[Abraham] said, "And of my descendants?" [ Allah ] said, "My covenant does not include the
wrongdoers. They interpret a leader in this verse means Imam. Ibn Bbwahi in the Kisl
interpreted this passage that Imamate did not belong to anyone who had done something
forbidden (whether the offence is great or small), even though he had repented.32
The infallibility of Imam cannot be recognized by our naked eyes. It cannot be seen by its
physical and outer appearance. The infallibility of Imam is something hidden and Imams only get
it by divine appointment by Allah or word of Prophet itself. 33 Majls said that Allah guards the
Imam from sin by his devotion to Qurn or the meaning maybe that Allah has made him
devoted to Qurn, so that he may fulfill in his conduct whatever is in Qurn, and know the
meaning of all its contents.34 There is also a hadith in Kanz Al-Fawyd, cited from a man called
Karajaki, who asserted that the Prophet said the angel Jibrl had informed him that the recording
angels of Ali had declared that from the day they were appointed to associate with him until the
present time they had never written any sin against him.35

They also refer to the hadith Qudsi which can be found in forty hadith of Imam Nawawi:
On the authority of Abu Hurairah, who said: the messenger of Allah said: Allah the
Almighty has said: "Whosoever shows enmity to a friend of mine, I shall be at war with
him. My servant does not draw near to me with anything more loved by me than the
religious duties I have imposed upon him, and my servant continues to draw near to me
with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing
32
33
34
35

Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.

p 322.
p. 322-323.
p. 324.
p. 324.

18

with what he hears his seeing with what he sees his hand with what he strikes, and his
foot with which he walks. Were he to ask [something] of me, I would surely give it to
him and were he to ask me for refuge, I would surely grant him it." (Related by
Bukhri).36
They claimed that the idea of infallibility was not a force but came from the efforts of Imam.
They were consistently praying, fasting and doing good deeds with the help and guidance from
Allah, so they will be at the highest place when they were always thinking about Allah and near
to him. This kind of experience fulfills the hadith above and Allah will guide them in anything
they do.37

Sunnite view
Are Prophets infallible? Shiite theologian stands that Prophets were infallible and they

never commit any sin and mistakes, so what is Sunnite stand and view on this issue? Sunnite
believes that the Prophets were infallible in certain part of their life. Prophets were also human
beings and they were not perfect. In the book entitled Al-Rusul wa al-Rislt, Sulamn alsyqr mentioned that there were certain part of life the Prophets were considered as infallible.
The majority of theologian agreed that Prophets were infallible during receiving the
revelation. Allah protected them from being forgetful with any of the divine revelation. Allah
said in Qurn: We will make you recite, [O Muhammad], and you will not forget, except what
Allah should will. Indeed, He knows what is declared and what is hidden (Srat al-Ala: 6-7)
36

An-Nawawi's Forty Hadiths(Translation), accessed November 8, 2013.

http://www.iium.edu.my/deed/hadith/other/hadithnawawi.html#hadith38
37
Dwight M.Donaldson, The Shiite Religion: A History of Islam in Persia and Irak. p. 325326.

19

and Move not your tongue with it, [O Muhammad], to hasten with recitation of Qurn, Indeed,
upon Us is its collection [in your heart] and [to make possible] its recitation (Srat al-Qiyamah:
16-180).38
Allah also protected them from hiding any of divine revelation. Prophets never hide any
of the revelations they got because a person hiding a revelation could not be trusted. Allah said in
Qurn: And if Muhammad had made up about Us some [false] sayings, We would have seized
him by the right hand, Then We would have cut from him the aorta(Srat al-Haqqah: 44-46)
and in Srat an-Najm verse 3 and 4, Allah said Nor does he speak from [his own] inclination, It
is not but a revelation revealed.
Next, Allah protected the Prophets from being killed until they preached and called others
to Islam. Allah said in Qurn, Srat al-Maidah verse 67: Messenger, announce that which has
been revealed to you from your Lord, and if you do not, then you have not conveyed His
message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the
disbelieving people.39
Allah commanded to Prophet Muhammad to convey everything conveyed by Him.
During farewell hajj, there were over 40 thousands of companions listening to the speech of
Prophet Muhammad.40 Ibn Kathr mentioned the hadith recorded by Muslim that Jabir bin
Abdullah said that Prophet Muhammad said in his speech on that day,
O people! You shall be asked about me, so what are you going to reply? They
said, We bear witness that you have conveyed (the message), fulfilled (the trust)
and offered sincere advice. The Prophet kept raising his finger towards the sky and
38

Srat al-Ala & Srat al-Qiyamah, accessed November 15, 2013.http://quran.com/

Srat al-Maidah, accessed November 15, 2013. http://quran.com/
40
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) (Riyadh: Darussalam, 2000), vol 3, p. 228.
39

20

then pointing at them, saying, O Allah! Did I convey? O Allah! Did I convey?
Allah statement, And if you do not, then you have not conveyed His message.
Meaning the Prophet knew the consequences of this failure. 41 Allah will protect, aid
and support the Prophet over his enemies and gave victory to him. None can harm
him without His permission.42
There are some examples in Qurn show that the Prophets were not infallible. Firstly
about the story of Prophet Ibrahim scared of his guest because his guests did not touch the food
he served. They were angels sent to the people of Lut. But when he saw their hands not reaching
for it, he distrusted them and felt from them apprehension. In Srat Hud verse 70, They said,
"Fear not. We have been sent to the people of Lot."43
Secondly, is the story of Musa and Khidr. Musa was not patient in his journey with Khidr.
He kept questioning what Khidr did. Allah told this story in Srat al-Kahfi verse 75, [Khidhr]
said, "Did I not tell you that with me you would never be able to have patience?".44
Thirdly is the story of Prophet Muhammad in Srat Abasa. This verse revealed to
Prophet Muhammad because he did not give attention and entertained one man who was blind
named Ibn Maktum who was asking something to Prophet. Prophet Muhammad at that time was
very busy entertaining one of the leaders of Quraisy and hoping he will embrace Islam. The
Prophet frowned in the face of Ibn Maktum and turned away from him in order to face the other
man. Then, Allah revealed the beginning of this srat.45

41

Ibid, p. 228-229.
Ibid, p. 229.
43
Srat Hud, accessed December 10, 2013.http://quran.com/11
44
Srat al-Kahf, accessed December 10, 2013.http://quran.com/18
45
Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) (Riyadh: Darussalam, 2000), vol 4, p. 356.
42

21

Based on the evidences from Qurn, we can know that Prophets were not perfect and do
commit mistakes but Allah protecting them from being forgetful during getting the revelation,
Prophets were not hiding any of the revelation and Allah protected them from being killed before
starting their mission. How can Shiites claimed their Imam was infallible while Prophets were
not so? If they tried to relate their Imam with Prophets, and then lets see in term of revelation,
Prophets were infallible during receiving a revelation and we know that the seal of Prophets was
Prophet Muhammad and no more revelation after him, so their Imams did not receive any
revelation to be infallible like Prophets.

6. The Ghults Trinity

Ghult is a plural of Ghl, is an Arabic term deriving from the verb ghla, meaning to
exaggerate or exceed the proper bound.46 Muslim scholars defined the Ghults as those Shiites
who had exaggerated their great respect of Imams, from Ali ibn Abi Talib to al-Mahdi by
attributing them qualities belonging only to God. They also deify Imam Ali and the rest of
Imams.47
Some of the examples of contemporary Ghult are Bektashis (Turkey), Kizilbash
(Turkey), Alawis (also known as Nusayris in Syria), and Shabak (Iraq). 48 Basically, Ghult sects
46

Matti Moosa, Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects, (United States of America New York:
Syracuse University Press, 1998), p. xiii.
47
Ibid, p. xiii.
48
Ibid, p. xxi-xxii.

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are Shiites who uphold the divine authority of Twelve Imams, from Ali to the Mahdi but they
exaggerate and deify Ali and the rest of Imams. 49 They claimed they are Twelve Shiites but
Twelve Shiites regard them as unbeliever and polytheists.
This extremist Shiites believe in trinity consisting of God, Muhammad and Ali which
they claim to be one person.50 This trinity is symbolized by the letter of Arabic alphabet which
begins with their names such alif for Allah (God), mim for Muhammad and ayn for Ali.51 Ali is
equal with Muhammad and God.

In Bektashi literature, Ali and Muhammad are considered as one person.

God, Muhammad, Ali are all one God
The divine reality, Muhammad, Ali is true,
If you ask what I have in this world
My answer is that, Muhammad and Ali is the one God I have,
God forbid that anyone should see them as separate from one another
Muhammad is Ali, Ali is Muhammad and with god they are but one God.
In Buyruk (the sacred book of Shabak), in contain the hadith of Prophet Muhammad.
I am the city of knowledge, and Ali is its gate

49
50
51

Ibid, p. xxiii.
Ibid, p. 50.
Ibid, p. 50.

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This hadith is a false (madh) hadith. If we look on this hadith, it looked like Prophet
Muhammad is important because he is the city of knowledge but actually Ghult believes that
Ali is much more important or preeminent because he is a gate. In order to get the knowledge
from Prophet Muhammad, people must go through the gate first. This hadith also shows that Ali
is coequal with Muhammad in every aspect except prophecy which belongs exclusively to
Prophet Muhammad.52 Birge explained that according to Bektashis,
The first radiance emanating from the undifferentiated Godhead is called the light of
Muhammad
This light manifested in Muhammad as well as Qurn which contains the divine
revelations of this Light. The light of divine knowledge can only be required through Ali which
is a door or gate leading to it.53
The author found out that there are Pagan, Christian and Islamic elements in this concept
of Trinity. There are some reasons that may lead to this extreme belief due to the ignorance of
their religious leaders and secrecy in guarding their belief. 54 Ghult are very secretive about their
belief and ritual act. They do some of their ritual or prayers at night and no outsiders attended
it.55
It had been found some of their acts contradicted with Islamic teachings. For example,
Kizilbash worship a piece of black wood and some of them even worship moon and sun. The
Nusayris celebrate Christmas and other Christian festivals. Some reasons of the influence of
Christian elements in Ghults came from the emergence of crypto-Christian communities.56
52
53
54
55
56

Matti Moosa, Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects, p. 51.

Matti Moosa, Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects, p. 51.
Ibid, p. 420.
Ibid, p. xxii.
Ibid, p. 424.

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Crypto means secret. They profess as a Muslim but secretly a Christian. After Byzantine was
defeated in the battle of Malazgirt and Muslim soldiers of Turkoman tribe went from Persia to
Iraq and dwelt in Asia Minor, a lot of Christians and their leaders embraced Islam. They emerged
crypto-Christian communities. There was also story when Ottoman was powerful; a lot of
Christian embraced Islam not because they were interested of Ottoman but because they wanted
to be exempted from taxes that should be paid by non-Muslims. 57 Most of them retained their
religious practices in secret. While the others embraced Islam in order to get praises and favors
from Sultans or to protect their property.58

57
58

Ibid, p. 425.
Matti Moosa, Extremist Shiites: The Ghulat Sects, p. 427.

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Conclusion

The crucial part in the belief of Shiite is their shahdat. It is a basic fundamental belief in
Islam. Whenever they make changes and put an addition to it, it will affect their understanding
and actions in everyday life. Somehow there is a scholar who said there is no problem with their
shahdat because they still testify Allah as the only one God and Prophet Muhammad is His
messenger.
In our opinion, with this addition in shahdat and even in adhn, it will lead to
fanaticism to Ali and others Imam and hatred towards the three caliphates before Ali and some of
Prophets wives. This fanaticism will lead groups of people to become extremists like Ghult
who deify Ali and their Imams and killing others who go against their ideas. Prophet Muhammad
did not teach his disciples to recite shahadt in the way Shiites did. They will also having a
problem in accepting hadith from the companions because of this belief or itiqd.
Next, we can see clearly the position of Shiite on prophethood. They are not denying
prophethood but equalize the position of their Imams with Prophets. They try to support the
position of Imam by finding a relationship or similarities between Imams and Prophets. They
26

have thousands of their own versions of fabricating hadith and rejecting an authentic hadith.
They also believe that Ali completed Prophet Muhammads mission and completed Allahs
blessings.
Allah said in Srat al-Nis verse 59, O you who have believed, obey Allah and obey
the Messenger and those in authority among you. And if you disagree over anything, refer it to
Allah and the Messenger, if you should believe in Allah and the Last Day. That is the best [way]
and best in result. From this verse we can clearly understand that Allah commands Muslim to
obey Allah and His messenger. Prophet Muhammad left us with two weighty things which are
Qurn and Sunnah. Muslim will not deviate if they hold on and keep tightly on these two
things. Muslim should be aware and conscious with their surrounding because Shiites used many
tricks to invite others to their sect.
To conclude, the stand of Shiite on prophethood is not the true teaching of Islam and
deviated. Prophet Muhammad came to call people to believe in one God and not to inform about
Ali as his successor. Muslims should know and understand Qurn and Sunnah as taught by
Prophet Muhammad and not simply accept alien ideas which contradicted to Islam.

27

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