How to speak to Khawarij

This is taken from the book [1]

Words of the Commander of the Faithful, ̃Ali b. Abi Talib

In one particular event, the Commander of the Faithful Ali b. Abi Talib sent Ibne Abbas towards the Khawarij (a group of individuals who had in fact, left the faith of Islam due to their deviant beliefs) to debate with them, however offered him the following advice:

“(O’ Ibne ̃Abbas) In your debates and discussions with them (the Khawarij), never resort to replying to them with the Qur`an, since surely the Qur`an contains verses which have various probabilities and possibilities to them (in their meaning and understanding). You shall speak to them (with the Qur`an), and they shall reply to you (with the Qur`an) and thus, your discussion with them will be prolonged. Rather, debate them using the sunnah since surely in that there is the straightforward and unequivocal reply and they will find no way to misrepresent the truth.” [2]

According to Ayatullah Jafar Subhani

This very valuable sentence clearly tells us that there are some verses of the Qur`an which have various possibilities in their meaning and it is not possible to specify one meaning to a verse without first going through the introductory steps (of understanding the verse). By merely possessing knowledge of the rules of the ̃Arabic language, the section of ambiguities will never be removed. Thus, the only way the ambiguities are removed is through the fourteen ways mentioned in this work.[1]

This hadith also relates to us the fact that all of the verses of the Qur`an are not straightforward proofs (which can be picked up and used without discretion) and thus in determining the true meaning where there is multiple possibilities of a particular verse, we must refer to other ways and means.

Reference
[1] Subhani, A. Jafar (2006). Introduction to the Science of Tafseer of the Qur'an. United Kingdom: World Federation of KSIMC. p. 72. ISBN 978-1-8984-4977-5.
[2] Nahjul Balagha, Letter 77

Cheap Islamic books

I am getting sick and tired of cheap Islamic books being published weekly if not daily. These books are flooding the market. Usually, you can find them just about everywhere; whenever you visit Muslim bookstores, stalls at community events..and nowadays online :(

If you have been reading these books, you'll noticed that some of the most common themes are as follow

• Islamic Miracles stories
• Promotions of Sufi lifestyles
• Unreasonable fear of west/westerners
• Manuals to make Muslim women even more submissive
• Extensive studies on Jinn and spirit world
• Let's implement Sharia and all the problems in the world would disappear
• Devil deceptions....confession of spies....conspiracy theories
• ..and so on...

Many of these books contain plagiarised content and are of very low quality (written in an essay format without any references, footnotes or bibliographies). Sunnis are mostly responsible for flooding the market with these cheap books….because they are the majority..... Yeah take that!

I wouldn't say Shias are not following in their footsteps..


Anyway, since Muslims who read such books have the tendency to believe that these books are completely authentic, I wonder if these books do more harm than good?

Butris going against Shias -- part 3

By accepting the first two caliphs, Zayd broke away from his brother al-Baqir. Many people found Zayd's position interesting.

Al-Baqir confirmed that they were merely caliphs. He did not acknowledged them as Imams or successors of the Holy Prophet. According to Shias, al-Baqir uttered that statement under the principle of dissimulation (taqiyya).

The book mentioned that a lot of people who were disappointed with al-Baqir's quiescent policy went to the side of Zayd. These people, the Butris, accepted the first two caliphs and rejected Taqqiya and the Shia Imam, al-Baqir.

The Butris have been condemned by al-Baqir. According to Imam Muhammad al-Baqir,

Even if the Butrites formed one battle-line from east to west, God would not grant glory to the world through them.

Eventually Zayd ibn Ali and some of his followers were killed by the Ummayad.

Butris going against Shias -- part 2

In my last post, we looked closely at the disagreement between Muhammad al-Baqir and his half-brother Zayd. Without any doubt whatsoever, they both despised the Ummayad who killed their grandfather in Karbala. Today, we are going to take a closer look at Butris/Batris/Battriya who took up the cause of Zayd.

The Butris rejected the leadership of the fifth Imam of Shia, Muhammad al-Baqir and went over to the side of Zayd. There were some Shias in Kufa who broke the allegiance from Zayd and went to the side of al-Baqir. The book mention that Zayd was not able to convincingly explain if Ali ibn Abi Talib was an Imam before he resorted to the sword (see the Jamal war, the Siffin war and the battle of Nahrawan).

Zayd's agreed with the Mutazilites about the first and the second caliph (Abu Bakr and Umar al-Khattab). Mutazilites believe Ali was a better candidate for the caliphate than Abu Bakr and Umar. However, they (Mutazilites) also held a politically correct opinion; they accepted both the first and the second caliph as legal representative of the people.

Zayd was very well acquainted with the leader of Mutazilah, Wasil ibn Ata. On the question of the many conflicts among the  Muslims (disagreements over the issue of caliphates, civil wars), Zayd sometimes agrees with Wasil ibn Ata and sometimes not. Briefly here are the positions adopted by a number of Muslim sects

1. The Sunnis (until today) believe that all companions were correct. In the Jamal war, they believe that both sides were correct.
2. The Mutazilah under Wasil ibn Ata believes that one side was in error but they are unsure which side that was (meaning they didn't take the side of Ali or Ayesha in the Jamal war).
3. Zayd believe that it was impossible for Ali ibn Abi Talib to be incorrect in the conflict because Ali was virtuous.
4. The Shias believe Ali was correct/right and the other side was clearly in error because they were fighting a divinely selected authority from God and a lawful caliph (Muslim representative).

Butris going against the Shia - part 1

Muhammad al-Baqir (the fifth Imam of Shia) lived in a time when you cannot condemn the first and second caliphs (Abu Bakr and Umar al-Khattab) openly.

His half brother, Zayd ibn Ali made peace with the first and the second caliphs. Zayd stopped talking about the first two caliphs being usurpers of Ahl Muhammad because he was trying to attract major personalities of his time to the cause of Ahl Muhammad.


Muhammad al-Baqir considered Zayd, just an ordinary person from his family. He was neither a Prophet nor his trustee. Al-Baqir further added that Zayd is sometimes right and sometimes may commit an error. [1]

Muhammad al-Baqir's father was Ali Zayn al-Abidin, who was the only surviving son of the Grandson of the Holy Prophet of Islam (Hussain who was martyred in Karbala). Muhammad al-Baqir's mother was Fatima, the great grand-daughter of Hassan, the grandson of the Holy Prophet. [2] Zayd shared the same father with al-Baqir but his mother was a slave woman from sub-continent India/Pakistan.[3] Now, in those days, people were very much into family connection and the tribes you were from. In a number of stories you will find that Zayd was discriminated/insulted due to his mother's status of being a slave woman and him having a rather different complexion. I remember that in one of the story, Zayd retorted back to the Ummayad agent/governor and was effectively thrown out from the mosque.

In some stories you will find that Zayd and his brother al-Baqir used to quarreled on the question of Imamah. Zayd believe that an Imam must rise with a sword to fight those who were perceived as oppressors.

Al-Baqir disagreed with Zayd and gave their father as an example. Their father, Ali Zayn al-Abideen, was a very private citizen. Ali Zayn al-Abideen, acknowledged by the Shias and Zaydis as their fourth Imam, was known as the greatest worshiper of his time for his prayers and remembrance of Allah swt. But he never rise against the Ummayad to contest his Imamah, even though the Ummayad had massacre almost every single person in his family.

Reference

Jafri, S.H Mohammad. "The Origin and Early Development of Shi'a Islam,”, Oxford University Press, 2002, p. 176, ISBN 978-0-19-579387-1

footnote from the book
[1] footnote pointing to Mas'udi, Muruj , II, p. 277.
[2] Ibn Hisham, II, p.264; III, p.349; Isti'ab , III, p. 1097; 'Iqd , IV, p. 312
[3] Ibn Hisham, IV, p. 163