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Shiʿa: Difference between revisions
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The term '''Shiʿa''' literally means followers, party, group, associate, partisan, or supporters. Expressing these meanings, Shiʿa occurs a number of times in the Quran (e.g., surahs 19:69, 28:15, and 37:83). Technically the term refers to those Muslims who derive their religious code and spiritual inspiration, after the Prophet, from [[Muhammad]]’s descendants, the [[Ahl al-Bayt]] (literally, people of the house). The focal point of Shi’ism is the source of religious guidance after the Prophet; although the Sunnis accept it from the sahaba (companions) of the Prophet, the Shiʿa restrict it to the members of the ahl al-bayt. | The term '''Shiʿa''' literally means followers, party, group, associate, partisan, or supporters. Expressing these meanings, Shiʿa occurs a number of times in the Quran (e.g., surahs 19:69, 28:15, and 37:83). Technically the term refers to those Muslims who derive their religious code and spiritual inspiration, after the Prophet, from [[Muhammad]]’s descendants, the [[Ahl Al-Bayt|Ahl al-Bayt]] (literally, people of the house). The focal point of Shi’ism is the source of religious guidance after the Prophet; although the Sunnis accept it from the sahaba (companions) of the Prophet, the Shiʿa restrict it to the members of the ahl al-bayt. | ||
==Rashidun Period== | ==Rashidun Period== | ||
The origin of the Shiʿa movement can be traced to the Medinan period of the Prophet's life. Some prominent Companions saw the Prophet's cousin [[ʿAli ibn Abi Talib]] as his wasi (legatee) and the [[imam]] to lead the community after him. Soon after the death of the prophet, at the beginning of the Rashidun period (632–661), this special regard for ʿAli found expression when he was denied the leadership of the community. The early supporters of ʿAli constituted the first nucleus of the Shiʿa. | The origin of the Shiʿa movement can be traced to the Medinan period of the Prophet's life. Some prominent Companions saw the Prophet's cousin [[ʿAli ibn Abi Talib]] as his wasi (legatee) and the [[imam]] to lead the community after him. Soon after the death of the prophet, at the beginning of the Rashidun period (632–661), this special regard for ʿAli found expression when he was denied the leadership of the community. The early supporters of ʿAli constituted the first nucleus of the Shiʿa. | ||