What is the difference between Sunnis and Shi’ahs?

Question:

What is the difference between Sunnis and Shi’ahs?

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Answer:

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

Imam Abu Hanifah rahmatullahi Alaihi said: The signs of The People of Sunnah and Jama’ah are that you give fadhilat (excellence) to Shaikain (Abu Bakr and Umar); you love the two son-in-laws (Uthman and Ali) and you wipe over leather socks (not over the feet themselves as the Shi’as do).

There are many differences between The Sunnis and Shi’as. A few of the major differences are mentioned below:

1. Belief in the oneness of Allah Sunnis believe that Allah is the one and only God, The Almighty Subduer. He has no partners or rivals and he has no equal. There is no intermediary between him and his worshippers. They believe that knowledge of the unseen belongs to Allah alone. All supplications, vows, offerings of sacrifices and requests for needs are to be directed to Allah alone. Shiites – They also believe in Allah, The Exalted and his oneness except that they adulterate this belief with polytheistic rituals and strange observances. They implore and supplicate to Allah’s slaves and worshippers rather than to Him alone, saying “O Ali” and “O Husain”. Similarly, they make vows and sacrifice animals in the name of others beside Allah.
2. The Companions of The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam Sunnis – It is unanimously agreed that the Sahabah Radhiyallahu Anhum are absolutely trustworthy. It is unlawful for anyone to make any accusations against them. The Quran Majid has classified this venerable group of Sahabah as ‘Believers’ and ‘the best of The Ummat’ and we have been ordered to follow their ways. Shiites – One of the largest principles of The Shi’ah religion is their hatred and enmity for the Sahabah-e-Kiram Radhiyallahu Anhum. According to the Shi’ahs, all of those Sahabah Radhiyallahu Anhum who, after the demise of The Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam took the pledge of allegiance (bai’at) at the hands of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Radhiyallahu Anhu are Kafir (Na’udhu Billah). The reason for this is that they did not take bai’at at the hands of what they call Ma’sum Imam Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu.
3. The Glorious Quran Sunnis – There is unanimous agreement among the Sunnis regarding its authenticity and its text being safeguarded from any additions or deletions. It is the word of Allah (The Exalted), ‘Falsehood does not approach it from before it nor from behind it. (Quran 41:42) Shiites – To some of them, the Quran’s authenticity is doubtful. They call this “Tahrif-e-Quran Majid”. (The Quran was distorted and tampered with). They claim that this Quran (which is present with the Muslims today) is not the original script but this is the script of Hadhrat Uthman Radhiyallahu Anhu and the original Quran is hidden with the 12^th Imam in some unknown cave.
4. Al-Walaa’ (Obedience and Trust) Sunnis – Allah the Exalted had specially appointed and sent prophets alaihimus salaam. They are sinless and free of faults. Wahi (divine revelation) is sent to them. They can issue and regulate the rulings of Shari’ah. It is necessary to obey them and obedience to others is defined by legal principles. Shiites – Shi’ahs aver that their ‘Imams’ have the same status and rank as the prophets. They believe that Allah Ta’ala had sent and specially appointed these Imams who came after the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. They are also sinless and free of faults; divine revelation is sent to them; they can issue and regulate the rulings of Shari’ah and they can also abrogate any law that is contained in the Quran. (Differences in the Ummah by Hadhrat Maulana Yusuf Ludhyanwi Rahmatullahi Alaihi. Pg.22-31)

Note – The Shi’ahs’ theory of Imamat is an opposition to the finality of our Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam’s Prophethood. This is the reason why all the false claimants to prophethood have borrowed this Shi’ah concept of Imamat as an expedient loophole to their false claims.

Note – Not all Shi’ahs are the same. They can be divided into various sects. (Ibn Hazm has mentioned 27 different sects in his work at Fisaal Fil Milaal Wal Nihaal.

1. Among the Shi’ahs, there were some who just had more love for Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu. They respected all the Sahabah; they were correct in their beliefs; Muhadditheen knew their nature and they narrated hadith from them as well. There is no harm in having more love for Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu. This may be due to some lineage connection with him or due to the Silsilah of Tasawwuf going back to him. There is a debate among the Sunnis as to who has more fadheelat (excellence): Uthman or Ali. There are three opinions among the Ulama.
   
   A- The majority say that Uthman is the third Khalifa and was married to two of the daughters of Sayyiduna Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. First, to Ruqayyah, then when she died Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam wedded him to Umme Kulthum Radhiyallahu Anhuma. This is why he is called ‘Zunnoorain’ (i.e. the one with the two noors).
   
   B- Imam Malik and Mujaddid Alfe Thani Rahmatullahi Alaihima were of the opinion that Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu had more fadheelat, because he was the cousin of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. He grew up in his house and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam gave him his most beloved daughter Fatima Radhiyallahu Anha and Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi wa sallam’s lineage survived through Ali and Fatima.
   
   C- Sufyan Thawri Rahmatullahi Alaihi would hesitate in this matter and say Allah knows best who has more fadheelat.
2. There were others among the Shiahs who believed that Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu should have been appointed the Khalifah of Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam without any delay. Abu Bakr and Umar Radhiyallahu Anhuma snatched the Khilafah from Ali and, thus, they were wrong doers. Such a claim has been denied by Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu himself. It is narrated in Seeratul Halabiyyah that Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu said: ‘If I had any instruction from Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam for being his Khalifah I would not have left Abu Bakr and Umar take the reins of Khilafah and I would have fought them tooth and nail. But we saw that Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam instructed us to pray behind Abu Bakr during his ill-health. And Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam did not die suddenly. He remained sick for a few days and he used to see me close to him. So we chose for our worldly affairs the same person whom Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam chose for our religious affairs.’
   و فى سير الحلبى قال على رضي الله عنه لو كان عندى من النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عهد فى ذلك ما تركت القتال على ذلك ولو لم اجد الا بردتى هذه وما تركت اخا بنى تيم و عمر بن الخطاب ينوبان على منبره صلى الله عليه وسلم و لقاتلتهما بيدى والنبى صلى الله عليه وسلم لم يمت فجاءة بل مكث اياما و ليالى يأتيه المؤذن فيؤذنه بالصلوة فيأمر ابا بكر يصلى بالناس وهو يرى مكانى به ولما مات صلى الله عليه وسلم اخترنا لدنيانا من رضيه صلى الله عليه وسلم لديننا فبايعناه انتهى. | حاشية 8 فى البخارى 382/1
3. There are some Shiahs who believe that Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu had the same rank as Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. The Isma’ili group believes that Ali was the original prophet. But when Jibril alaihis salaam came with wahi he made a mistake. He gave the prophethood to Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam instead of Ali Radhiyallahu Anhu. There is no doubt that a person who holds such a belief is a disbeliever. Could Jibril not differentiate between a ten year old boy and a forty year old man? If we were to believe this, then how could we trust Jibril and everything he brought down?
4. There are others who think that Ali was better than the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam. In fact, some believe that he was God. There is no doubt in the kufr of people with such beliefs.In one hadith Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said to Ali radhiyallahu anhu, “There is some similarity between you and the Prophet Esa alaihissalam. The Jews hated him so much that they slandered his mother, whereas the Christians loved him so much that they put him at a position which does not belong to him”. Then Ali radhiyallahu anhu said, “Two persons will be destroyed in my matter.1) A lover who exaggerates and praises me with what is not in me. 2) A loather who hates me and this enmity instigates him to slander me. (Ahmed, Mishkat p565) Ali was referring to the two groups: The Rawaafidh and The Khawaarij.

Note: – The above differences were with regards to beliefs. There are some differences with regards to practice as well. For example:-

Sunnis wash their feet in wuzu whereas Shi’ahs believe that wiping over the feet is sufficient just as wiping over the head.

Sunnis tie their hands during Qiyaam in Salah whereas Shi’ahs let their hands loose on their sides.

Sunnis believe that sajdah can be performed on anything that is laid on the floor, even though sajdah on the earth is more virtuous. Shi’ahs believe that sajdah has to be performed on the earth or something made from the earth. This is why they will stand while holding a stone or some baked clay in their hand and place it on the carpet before making sajdah upon it.