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(21) Are there any evidences to show that TAQIYAH is valid?
Both the Holy Quran and the Hadiths can confirm that
taqiyah is lawful.
"Any one who becomes unbeliever after being believer, EXCLUDING the one who is under compulsion and
force while his hurt is firm in faith, but the one go on in disbelief, Wrath of Allah is on to them and they will have a dreadful
penalty," (Quran 16:106)
"A Believer, a man from among the people of Pharaoh, who had CONCEALED his faith, said: "Will
ye slay a man because he says, `My Lord is Allah'?....[40:28]"
And also:
"Let not the believers take for friends
or helpers unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, (they) shall have no relation left with Allah except by way
of precaution ("tat-taqooh"), that ye may guard yourselves ("tooqatan") from them....[3:28]"
It has been narrated by
Abd al-Razak, Ibn Sa'd, Ibn Jarir, Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Mardawayh, al-Bayhaqi in his book "al- Dala-il," and it was corrected
by al-Hakim in his book "al- Mustadrak" that:
"The non believers arrested `Ammar Ibn Yasir (RA) and (tortured him until)
he (RA) uttered foul words about the Prophet (PBUH&HF), and praised their gods (idols); and when they released him (RA),
he (RA) went straight to the Prophet (PBUH&HF). The Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "Is there something on your mind?" `Ammar
Ibn Yasir (RA) said: "Bad (news)! They would not release me until I defamed you (PBUH&HF) and praised their gods!" The
Prophet (PBUH&HF) said: "How do you find your heart to be?" `Ammar (RA) answered: "Comfortable with faith." So the Prophet
(PBUH&HF) said: "Then if they come back for you, then do the same thing all over again." Allah (SWT) at that moment revealed
the verse: "....except under compulsion, his heart remaining firm in faith...[16:106]"
It is narrated in Sunan al-Bayhaqi
that Ibn Abbas explained the above verse
"Any one who, after accepting Faith in Allah, utters unbelief....[16:106]"
by
saying:
"The meaning that Allah (SWT) is conveying is that he who utters unbelief after having believed, shall deserve
the Wrath of Allah (SWT) and a terrible punishment. However, those who have been coerced, and as such uttered with their tongues
that which their hearts did not confirm to escape persecution, have nothing to fear; for Allah (SWT) holds His (SWT) servants
responsible for that which their hearts have ratified."
Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti in his book, "al-Durr al-Manthoor Fi
al-Tafsir al-
Ma'athoor," v2, p176, narrates that:
Abd Ibn Hameed, on the authority of al-Hassan, said: "al-Taqiyya
is permissible until the Day of Judgement."
Narrated in Sahih al-Bukhari, v7, p102, that Abu al-Darda' said:
"(Verily)
we smile for some people, while our hearts curse (those same people)."
We observe that al-Taqiyya is CLEARLY permitted
in a time of need. In fact, the Book of Allah instructs us that we should escape a situation which causes our destruction
for nothing:
"and make not your own hands contribute to your destruction [2:195]"
(22) Do the 12 Imams know
the knowledge of GHAIB (unseen)?
The knowledge of unseen is only with Allah (S.W.T) if Allah wants to reveal His knowledge
to a chosen Messenger(s) he has the every right to do so, he knows best where to place his message.
"He possesses the
Ghayb and He does not discloses His Ghayb to anyone except to such a Messenger as He is well-pleased with." (Quran 72:26-27).
From the above verse, it is evident that although Allah alone possesses the withheld knowledge (Ghayb), but He may
disclose a news from it to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HF). On the other hand, Prophet Muhammad transferred whatever he was
reached from the news of "Ghayb" to those who qualified, as the following verse testifies:
"And he (Muhammad) is not
niggardly the Knowledge of the Unseen."(Quran 81:24).
Therefore, if the news of Ghayb reached to the Prophet Muhammad
(and consequently the Imams of Ahlul-Bayt), it is only because it was given to him by Allah. It is for this reason that according
to Quran the messengers are all instructed to tell people that they do not possess the Knowledge of Ghayb of their own, for
it is reached to them by Allah only as He wishes.
In Usul a-Kafi, it is narrated that:
Ammar al-Sabati said:
I asked Abu Abdillah (Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq) concerning if Imam knows al-Ghayb (Unseen). He replied: "No, but when he wishes
to know something, Allah causes him to know that." (Usul al-Kafi, Kitab al- Hujjah, Tradition #666)
Shaikh al-Mufeed
(d. 413/1022) who was one the outstanding Shia scholars said:
" ... Saying that they (Prophet and Imams) possess the
knowledge of Ghayb should be refuted as being something clearly incorrect, because the attribute of this can only be for someone
who possesses the knowledge of (all) things within himself, not the knowledge obtained from another. And this can only be
for Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty. All Imamis agree on this except those who deviated from them and are called Mufawwidah
and extremists (al-Ghulat)." (Awa'il al- Maqalaat, p38).
in fact, neither the prophets nor Imams ever claimed that
they have all the knowledge within themselves. Obviously they did not know those of information which was "hidden" to them.
However, this does not mean that whatever they knew is "visible" to us as well. The information which is considered to be
"hidden" to us may be "visible" to them. Thus the visibility of knowledge is relative to the person.
(23) Do the Imams
have supernatural powers?
Well, the minister of Sulaymaan a.s. had mysterious powers, but how? Allah explains:
""The
One with whom was just a part of the Knowledge of the Book said: 'I shall bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye!'
Then when (Solomon) saw (the throne) set in his presence, he said: 'This is by the grace of my Lord! to test me whether I
am grateful or ungrateful!'" (Quran 27:40).
The verse above shows, that Prophet Sulaymaan's minister had the knowledge
of the Book, and with this knowledge he was able to bring the throne of Balqis within the twinkling of an eye.
That
was ONLY A PART OF KNOWLEDGE, he had and with it he was able to do a mysterious thing.
Now imagine what would those
beings be able to do, with WHOM WAS THE WHOLE KNOWLEDGE OF THE BOOK?!!!!!
"(O' Prophet) say: Enough for witness between
me and you is Allah and he who possesses the Knowledge of the Book." (Quran 13:43)
The verse above does not mention
SOME KNOWLEDGE of the book but the knowledge of the book!
Who else could be referred to the verse above other than
IMAM ALI IBN ABI TALIB a.s !
The same knowledge was then transferred to the rest of the Holy Imams, and it was for
this reason the Holy Prophet declared: " Iam leaving behind me 2 precious things, namely the Holy Quran and my Ahl Al Bayt,
stay attached two these two, never will you go astray after me, nor will these two separate from each other until they meet
me at the pool of Kawthar"
The Holy Prophet left behind his Ahl Al bayt attached to the Holy Quran, who knew its hidden
and open meanings, who understood it as did the Holy Prophet himself. It is for this reason we have never witnessed any of
our Imams having to go to others for solutions but rather the others came to them for guidance and solutions to their problems.
(24)How
do the Shia's view the first 3 Calpihs, namely Abu Bakr (R.A) Omar Ibn Khataab (R.A) and Usmaan (R.A), ?
The Shia's
view these Companions as illegitimate Rulers, because the right was given to Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib, by the Holy Prophet himself.
Their
virtues and merits are not denied by us, but it is illogical to think that they were more worthy of being the Natural Successors
to the Holy Prophet than our Imams.
Lets not say who should have been the Successor of the Holy Prophet after him,
but (how) should a (Amir al Mu'mineen) be like? what qualifications, merits, and virtues would he need to become a CaliphRuler?
The
Holy Quran mentions: "And their Prophet said unto them: "Verily, Allah has raised up for you Talut (to be) the King (Ruler)
they said: "How can the kingdom be his, over us, whereas we are rightful for it than he while he is not gifted with abundance
of wealth;?" he said: "Verily, Allah has CHOSEN him over you and has increased him abundantly in Knowledge and Physique; and
verily, Allah grants His Kingdom unto whomever he pleaseth; Allah is Omniscient and All-Knowing." - ( 2:247)
According
to the verse above, the reply given by the Prophet against the people's argument needs a serious attention by those who are
sincere to know the qualities essentially needed in a Amir/Ruler, be he a mere temporal one:-
(1)'Innallah astafaha
alaikum' i.e. "Verily Allah has chosen him in preference to you" This part of the verse clearly and very eloquently gives
out the fact or the divine law that a Amir/Ruler of the people, is not chosen by the people themselves but by Allah Himself.
(2)'
Wazadahu Bastutanfil ilmi wal jism' i.e. "He (Allah) has increased him abundantly in Knowledge and Physique. These words plainly
expose that the one chosen by Allah to rule His people, is given Knowledge and Physical strength by Allah Himself. That the
true Amir/Ruler of Allah's loved people must possess divinely inspired Knowledge and godly strength of the body.
(3)'Wallahu
Youti Mulkuhumaiyasha' i.e "Verily Allah (alone) grants His Kingdom to whoever He likes" - which means that the Kingdom is
of Allah alone, and it is granted only by Him and it is granted to whoever He likes, let people like it or not, and the Kingdom
of Allah extends to the Universe as a whole, and the authority to rule His Kingdom on His behalf will always be only with
the one whom Allah Himself grants it.
(4)'Wallahu Waseon Aleem' i.e "Verily Allah (alone) is the Ample-giver and the All-Knowing"
- These words speak out the act that bounties to mankind through the government of their state can only come from the All-
Bountiful Who alone is the ample-giver, and no amount of human devices of their diplomacies besides Allah's Will, can ever
be of any avail to humanity. And what is good and what is bad for people is best known only to Allah, which knowledge can
be conveyed to men through His chosen ones to rule over them, and not at all through any other means of the diplomatic election
or choice, or by the appointment of a ruler effected by the people themselves.
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Basically it all comes down to the KNOWLEDGE, the more learned a person is, the more suitable he will be as a rightful
candidate for the seat of Successorship..
To enlighten this further, Allah says in the Holy Quran;
"THOSE WHO KNOW
AND THOSE WHO KNOW NOT ARE THEY ALIKE? "
"IS HE THEN WHO GUIDES TO THE TRUTH WORTHY OF BEING FOLLOWED OR THE ONE WHO
DEPENDS ON OTHERS FOR GUIDANCE, WHAT THEN HAS BEFALLEN YOU, HOW DO YE JUDGE ?" - 10:35
The verse above is an open refutation
of the validity of the majority's opinion, for they follow their own conjectures instead of following the MOST LEARNED, ONE!
It
also proves, that a less learned person, cannot be a guide OVER the more learned. It's light reveals, that a person who can
lead to the TRUTH, without any help from anyone other than Allah, deserves to be the guide only.
It also argues, that
a person who depends on others for guidance, is unworthy of being a guide.
The verse also indicates that, those who
follow a less learned one, while there exists among them, a more learned one than the one present as a guide, then they are
following nothing but conjecture!
If one studies this one particular verse very intelligently, and act FAITHFULLY upon
the guidance it gives to every sincere seeker after the TRUTH, it would lead him/her to the correct path of ISLAM.
Its
a SHAME really to think, that Muslims in majority have been doing just that, accepting to follow the LESS learned ones, while
there existed more learned ones, as better and pious guides.
No sane person can accept that Allah prefers a ignorant
person over the learned, it is totally against Allah laws and LOGIC.
Then why have the Majority of Muslims, accepted
those men, as best and pious guides, who were ignorant of many facts and Islamic teachings, especially in the matters of rulings,
when existed amongst them a person, who would say openly:
"Ask me before you lose me. By Allah, if you ask me about
anything that could happen up to the Day of Judgement, I will tell you about it. Ask me, for, by Allah, you will not be able
to ask me a question about anything without my informing you. Ask me about the Book of Allah, for by Allah, there is no verse
about which I do not know whether it was sent down at night or during the day, or whether it was revealed on a plain or in
a mountain."
Sunni References:
al-Isabah, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v4, p568
Tahdhib al-Tahdhib, by Ibn Hajar
al-Asqalani, v7, pp 337-338
Fat'hul Bari, by Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani, v8, p485
Tarikh al-Khulafaa, by al-Suyuti, p124
al-Itqan, by al-Suyuti, v2, p319
al-Riyadh al-Nadhirah, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, v2, p198
at-Tabaqat, by Ibn
Sa'd, v2, Part 2, p101
al-Isti'ab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, v3, p1107
Yes it was IMAM ALI IBN ABI TALIB, who used to
claim this, no wonder the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF) informed his followers of the very existence of a man who was the treasurer
of Knowledge of the Holy Prophet (PBUH&HF), and he had declared to them that if they want to reach the Knowledge of the
Holy Prophet, they should take that Knowledge from the treasurer:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH&HF) said:
"I
am the City of Knowledge, and Ali is its Gate. So whoever intends to enter the City, he should enter from its Gate."
Sunni
references:
1.Sahih al-Tirmidhi, v5, pp 201,637
2.al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, pp 126-127,226, Chapter of the Virtues
of Ali, narrated on the authority of two reliable reporters: one, Ibn Abbas, whose report has been transmitted through two
different but chain of authorities, and the other, Jabir Ibn Abdullah al-Ansari. He said this tradition is Authentic (Sahih).
3.Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p635, Tradition #1081
If IMAM ALI IBN ABI TALIB, was the most knowledgeable
amongst the companions, why did those who elected Abu bakr as a Caliph at Saqifa Bani, prefer Abu Bakr over Ali, especially
when it is known and agreed by all , that many times Hasrat Abu bakr and Hasrat Omar, used to seek for a solution, from Imam
Ali, when they could'nt solve a problem themselves?
Abu Bakr said: "May Allah never put me in a situation where I
can not have access to Abul Hasan (i.e., Ali) to solve a problem." Similarly, Sa'id al-Musayyib said:
"Umar Ibn al-Khattab
used to beg God to preserve him from a perplexing case which the father of al-Hasan was not present to decide." Furthermore
Umar said: "If there was not Ali, Umar would have perished."
Sunni references:
Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn
Hanbal, v2, p647, Tradition #1100
al-Isti'ab, by Ibn Abd al-Barr, v3, p39
Manaqib, by al-Khawarizmi, p48
al-Tabaqat,
by Ibn Sa'd, v2, p338
al-Riyadh al-Nadhirah, by Muhibbuddin al-Tabari, v2, p194
Tarikh al-Khulafaa, by Jalaluddin
al-Suyuti, p171
Hasrat Omar himself admitted, that if it were,nt for Imam Ali, he would have perished!
There
are many cases recorded, where Hasrat Ali saved Hasart Omar from making grave mistakes!
Many traditionists have recorded,
quoting from Ibn 'Abbas, that he said:
"A mad woman who had committed adultery was brought to 'Umar. He sought counsel
from the people regarding her, and then ordered that she be stoned. 'Ali b. Abu Talib passed by her and asked: 'What is the
matter with her?'
The people said: 'She is a mad woman of such and such a tribe and has committed adultery, and 'Umar has
ordered that she be stoned'. He said: 'Take her back'; then he went to him and said: 'Do you not know that the pen has been
lifted from the mad person until he is sane, from the one asleep until he awakes, and from the child until he attains puberty?'
'Umar freed her and said: 'Had it not been for 'Ali, Umar would have perished'". (Ibn al-Jawzi in his al-Tadhkira,
p.75).
Ibn Maja, in his Sunan, volume 2, p. 227,
Al-Hakim in volume 2, p. 59 of his Mustadrak,
Abu Dawud in
volume 2, p. 402 of his Sunan,
Al-Bayhaqi in volume 6, p. 64 of his Sunan,
Ibn Hajar in Fath al-Bari, and other reporters
relate from Ibn 'Abbas.
Surprisingly, AL BUKHARI has recorded that: "'Ali said to 'Umar: 'Do you not know that the
pen is raised from the mad person until he attains sanity, from the
child until he attains maturity, and from the one sleeping
until he wakes up?'"
But al-Bukhari was confused by this narration. How could he inform the people of 'Umar's ignorance
regarding the penalties legislated in Allah's book, and which the Prophet of Allah (S.A.W.) had explained? How could one assume
the position of the head of the Caliphate if his condition was such?
Furthermore, how could al-Bukhari narrate this
narration, when it contains the merits of 'Ali b. Abu Talib who had resorted to teaching them what they did not know? Moreover,
'Umar's admission "Had it not been for 'Ali, 'Umar would perished".
IF THE NIGHT-BIRD DOES NOT LIKE THE SUNSHINE, WILL
THE BEAUTY OF ITS LIGHT CEASE?
By comparing the verse (10:35) with the incident mentioned above, one has to give up
the weird belief they are following or be amongst the "BLIND FOLLOWING THE BLIND!"
"AND FOLLOW NOT MOST (AQSAROHUM)OF
THEM BUT CONJECTURE; VERILY CONJECTURE CANNOT AVAIL ANYTHING AGAINST THE TRUTH; VERILY ALLAH KNOWS WHAT THEY DO"-35:36
Truly,
Allah has stated that THE MAJORITY are following falsehood...We can see the same results in Non-Shiaism, they have accepted
Hasrat Abu Bakr, Hasrat Omar and Hasrat Usmaan, OVER Imam ALI, the most learned out of the three and the rest of Companions.
There
was no argument used by any companion at Saqifa Bani, to show that Abu Bakr was chosen because of his KNOWLEDGE, AND PIETY,
the two main factors which exalt the position of a person towards superiority.
A INFERIOR WAS GIVEN PRIORITY OVER THE
SUPERIOR, IS'NT THIS AGAINST THE TEACHINGS OF ISLAM?
The authority to rule over mankind is vested in the person who
can guide the people to the truth and not in the person or person's who not the right from wrong unless guided by somebody
else, and to this effect the Sixth Holy Imam, Jaffar ibne Muhammad as- Sadiq (A.S) in refuting the theory (Khilafat should
be decided by the people) narrated from his father the Fifth Holy Imam Muhammad ibne Ali al-Baqir(A.S)from the Holy Prophet,
that he said: "Whoever drew the sword and called people to himself to obey him while among the Muslims there is a person more
learned than him, then he is a straying imposter"
Prophet Ibraheem (A.S) advances the same argument, informing his father
to follow him because of the knowledge granted to him.
"O' my father! Indeed has come unto me, of the knowledge which
has not come unto thee, so follow me: I will guide thee on the path straight" -19:43
If Imam Ali was more knowledgeable
than Hasrat Abu Bakr, Hasrat Omar, Hasrat Usmaan, and according to the Holy Quran it's the most learned one that deserves
to be followed, then why was Imam Ali deprived of his right?
Imam Ali many times expressed:
"By Allah, I am the
Brother of the Messenger of Allah and his friend and his cousin and the inheritor of his knowledge. Who has a better title
for succeeding him than me?
Sunni references:
al-Khasa'is al-Alawiyyah, al-Nisa'i
al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim
v3, p112
al-Dhahabi in his Talkhis of al-Mustadrak has admitted the above words to be genuine.
Secondly to be a good
judge, is another quality of the Amir al Mu'mineen.
"O David! Verily We have made you a vicegerent in the earth, so judge
thou between the people with justice and follow not vain desires" -38:26
It is an admitted fact that there was no other
Companion of the Holy Prophet who was as good as Ali (A.S) in judging matters related to the Sharia of Islam.
Ibn Mas'ud
said: "We were talking that the most trustful referee/Judge in Medina to solve the problems was Ali."
Sunni References:
Tarikh al-Kabir, by al-Bukhari (the author of Sahih), v1, part 2, p6
Fadha'il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2,
p646, Tradition #1097
al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v2, p352
Tarikh al-Khulafaa, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p171
al-Isti'ab,
by Ibn Abd al-Barr, section of word "Ain", v2, p462; v3, p39
al-Tabaqat, by Ibn Sa'd, v2, p338, He also reported that
Umar said: "Ali was our Judge"
There are many other qualities that a person needs to have, to be the Amir al Mu'meen
like braveness, truthfulness, piety, etc. And it is well known that Imam Ali (A.S) excelled all others in virtues and merits.
Hence
Imam Ali (A.S) deserved to be the natural Successor to the Holy Prophet, and his deserving position lead the Holy Prophet
Muhammad (S.A.W) to declare: "Of whomsoever I am the Moula Ali is his Moula, O Allah love him who loves Ali, forsake him who
forsakes Ali"
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