Shia Muslim And Who They Are

Shia Muslims share the basic and fundamental laws of Islam with the Sunni Muslims. They are the minority of the Muslim community, and constitute only about ten percent of the entire population. Though they are not discriminated from the others, there is still a divide among the thoughts. Most Muslims believe that, all that matters is to follow Islam.

There is a point to note, that Muslims in the Shia division, do not agree with the Sunni Muslims on spiritual and political points. This has grown over the years, and has put a barrier between them in a certain way. The formation of this division can be dated back to the death of Prophet Muhammed. There was basically an argument about who has to take over the Muslim nation.

The Shia Muslims strongly believed that leadership of the religion, should have been passed on to the Prophet’s own family instead of the friends and advisors. They also think that the imams chosen by God should have done the needful. They think that who are they is important, and not what they can do. This whole point contradicts the Muslim culture to the world.

While the entire world looks at them, as being the most united religious and cultural group in the world, it is not so. The word Shia means a group of supportive party or people. This is the short form of Shia-t-Ali, or the supporters of Ali. He was Prophet Muhammed’s cousin and son-in-law. This is a very interesting point to note in the history of Muslims.

It is also known that throughout history, the Muslims of the Shia caste have not accepted any religious leaders appointed by the Muslims. They have only followed the imams, and also because they believe that they have been chosen by God, and it is their duty as Muslims to only follow the leads of God. From this, the spiritual differences grew between the two divides among the Muslims.

Shia Muslims believe that since imams are pure, and have been chosen by God, they are the right people to follow. They even visit shrines and tombs of imams, in the form of a pilgrimage, as they seek divine intercession. They do so because they think imams are sinless by nature, and have been commanded by God to do the needful, which is why they do not hesitate to follow them.

There were testimonies by the Prophet’s closest friends, and how he behaved spiritually and otherwise. But the Muslims in the Shia divide do not take heed to this. They think that they have to follow only the first hand information, about the Prophet and his teachings as it was recorded by his followers. The Shia Muslims feel some sort of animosity towards these close friends.

These Muslims also believe that no leader can become great, or lead the Muslim nation, unless it is a birthright. They feel that this position cannot be earned, and only the descendants of the Prophet may do so.