What are the central beliefs of Shia muslims? What are the central ideas the differentiate them from others?

Question

I work with a Muslim thanks for asking. I would like to know more about what he thinks. I already drive him crazy with questions and I dont what to make him feel picked on as I like the guy. I would hope this section would be helpful.

Answer 1

You will often hear misrepresentations and outlandish statements about Shia beliefs. I don't know why that is, just to spread hatred I guess.

Anyway, a lot of this is a bit overwhelming for the question you asked. I think Karina gave a great answer, and a good jumping off point for further research. I've included some helpful links.

BTW, many non-Muslims don't realize that Muslims (whether Sunni, Shia, or any other) believe in the resurrection of Jesus (as), and that he will walk with the Imam Mahdi (the Muslim Messiah, if you will) at the end time?

Now I need to defend against another answer.

***************

1. They consider Hazrat Ali to be the Wali i.e. descendant, companion, associate, lord of Allah.

-- Untrue. The Shia consider Imam Ali (as) a descendant, companion and associate of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).

2. Shia worship Hazrat Ali R.A. and his decendents.

-- Untrue. The Shia revere Imam Ali (as) and the descendants of Prophet Mohammed. They are held in high-esteem. Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), his daughter Fatima Zahraa (as) and the Shia 12 Imam are considered models of virtue.

-- If this were true, then by the same mode of reasoning one could say that the Sunni worship Abu Bakr (as) and Aisha (as).

proof:

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?...

-- what proof? this is just a link to a forum index. Are we meant to read every forum post to findthis 'proof?'

3. Shias have legalized prostituion (Mutah)

-- Untrue. Mu'tah is a fixed-term marriage contract. Although it's true that some people abuse Mu'tah and liken it unto prostitution, that is not the way the practice is intended. There are always some in any group that have to ruin it for everyone.

4. Shias curse the companions of prophet Muhammad and his wives.

-- Perhaps some do, but Sunni state this over and over again. The worst I have ever heard a Shia say against anyone is "Astaqfirallah" (God forgive me) about Aisha (as). It is felt she made some poor choices during the course of the divide over the Caliphate/Imamate, but is respected for teaching others about Islam. Aisha (as), along with all of the wives of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH), are held in high esteem as the Mothers of the Believers.

-- With that said, Abu Bakr (as), Yazid and Uthman (as) are, it's true, extremely disliked for their machinations, ordering and carrying out the slaughter of the Prophet Mohammed's (PBUH) family, including his grandchildren.

5. Shias believe the Quran is incomplete and the real quran is with their 12th imam who is hiding in a cave.(lmaooo)

-- Untrue, and one of the craziest things I hear Sunni saying about Shia. According to the Shia, the 12th Imam is in occultation, meaning existing outside of time, before being resurrected at the end times. A Christian may understand this through Jesus (as), who is also in occultation until his resurrection. Jesus (as) is in occultation in heaven, whereas the 12th Imam, Imam Mahdi, is in occultation on earth, like the sun hidden behind the clouds.

-- The story spread by Sunni is a gross misrepresentation. The story is simply that the last place the Imam Mahdi was seen was, by some accounts, in his uncle's cellar or in a cave.

-- Imam Mahdi is not bringing "the real Quran" nor is the Holy Quran considered incomplete. The Holy Quran is considered perfected by Allah (SWT). Imam Mahdi will bring further texts that will help enlighten  the Quran, and he will draw forth all of the religious texts.

*ETA: OK I've only been taught about the perfection of the Holy Quran and know nothing about the above mentioned missing parts eaten by a goat. I'm not a scholar of Islam, just a Comparative Religion major and teacher :)

Answer 2

let's unit the Muslims first.

Answer 3

it's alot to paste here

but check this site by fellow Muslims about shiaism religion from their sources

http://www.ahlelbayt.com/

and read here many articles about shiaism

http://allaahuakbar.net/article_showall....

Answer 4

according to Glorious Quran Absolutely NO DIFFERENCE both follow hadith,hearsay,both partialy reject Glorious Quran ,

in sunni text of hadith mutah is allowed too..but banned by umer.. now the question is according to hadith ,it was a legal/religious practice before Umer,and as in hadith Mutah was decreed by allah and practiced by Prophet Muhammed too (STRICTLY ACCORDING TO HADITH),but umer banned it..well now the question why did Umer ban mutah as it was allegedly in hadith books it was decreed by Allah Allmighty ? how could umer dare to prohibit such religious practice such as mutah ???

how could umer go against Prophet Muhammed..how could umer dare over ride Allah  and ban it ?

hadith books are nothing but a c**p

@ Sarah Joseph ,,why do you ignore the fact that Sunnis have the same belief that Glorious Quran is incomplete...a goat ate few surahs of Ehzab in which Rajam was allowed..

before this goat eating thing happend Surah Ehzab was of 200 verses..get real plz

Answer 5

There are some differences in practices and believes both!

for detailed answer read this page!

http://www.islamfortoday.com/shia.htm

Answer 6

Does it matter, the Buraq ride is for everyone.

Answer 7

Central beliefs same as Islam. Minor variations due to fiqh issues as well as cultural divides sometimes. The main sticking issues seem to be (for Sunnis)

Shiaism allows fixed term marriages. It is a way of taking responsibility and reducing heartbreak for mature adults.

The other thing is that Shias go to a special service for Ashura at the mosque where everybody wears black and listens to a sermon. nobody beats themselves or anything like that.

Otherwise, based on what you see when you go to the mosque or go to Shia Muslims' homes, there is basically no difference between them and Sunni Muslims. They tend to avoid music, dress in hijab, avoid pork and alcohol, talk about hadiths a lot, respect their parents, etc. They have arranged marriages, eat delicious food...

Oh, the third difference is that Shia Muslims are more relaxed about combining prayers if you get busy. So if you go to the masjid they will actually do Dhuhr and Asr or Maghrib and Isha back to back - at least in certain occasions -because the reasoning is they want to make sure you do it. Whereas Sunnis who get busy tend to wait until the end of the day and do four prayers all at once when they get home, as Qada.

Answer 8

1. They consider Hazrat Ali to be the Wali i.e. descendant, companion, associate,lord of Allah.

The Arabic-English Dictionary of the University of Damascus lists among the various meaning for wali:

"Legal guardian. A friend or protector. Someone who is supposed to look out for your interest. Guardian, curator, custodian, keeper, caretaker, patron, sponsor, supporter, protector, defender, friend, associate, companion, saint, holy man, lord, chief, master, owner, proprietor, holder, possessor".

2.Shia worship Hazrat Ali R.A. and his decendents.

proof:

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?...

3.Shias have legalized prostituion (Mutah)

4.Shias curse the companions of prophet Muhammad and his wives.

5.Shias believe the Quran is incomplete and the real quran is with their 12th imam who is hiding in a cave.(lmaooo)

@ Mohamamd K. Bring proof for your claim.

Here is the proper link to prove my claim.

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?...

http://www.shiachat.com/forum/index.php?...

Answer 9

the only people to get reliable answers for YOUR question from this  section are FTL, Muhamed, GoonerH, env412, or Heba, everbody else will give false misleading information