THE SHIITE
APOLOGETICS

Author: Sayyid Reza Husayni Jassab
Translated by: Sayyid Iraj Razzaghi, Dr. Sayyid Muhammad Reza
Hashemi Gholam Hasan Khavari
Publisher: Ansariyan Publications
First Edition 1385 -1428 - 2007
Sadr Press
Number of Pages: 200
Quantity: 2000
Size: 143 x 205 mm
ISBN: 978-964-438-866-8
ALL RIGHTS RECORDED AND RESERVED FOR THE PUBLISHER

Ansariyan Publications
P.O. Box 187
22 Shohada St., Qum
Islamic Republic of Iran
Tel: 0098 251 7741744 Fax: 7742647
Email: ansarian@noornet.net
www.ansariyan.net & www.ansariyan.org

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue		15
Question One Which One Is Correct, “*My ITRAH*”, or “My SUNNAH”?		18
	Chain of narrators of the hadith containing “wa Ahla Bayti” The text containing “wa sunnati.” Comments of the experts of `ilm al-rijal concerning these two narrators The Second Evidence for ‘wa sunnati” The Third Document for “Wa sunnati” Uncited Quotation Implications of Thaqalayn Hadith	18 20 20 22 23 24 26

Question Two What is meant by “Shi`ah”?		27

Question Three Why is `Ali (a.s), the son of Abu-Talib, the Prophet’s Successor?		29

Question Four Who are the Imams?		32

Question Five Why do Shiites include the descendants of Muhammad when blessing him, SAYING, “O Lord, bless Muhammad and his descendents”?		34

Question Six Why do Shiites consider the Imams ‘Ma`sum,’ infallible?		36

Question Seven Why do you bear witness to `Ali’s guardianship (Wilayah) in the call to prayer (the Adhan), saying “I testify that `Ali is Allah’s Wali?		38

Question Eight Who is Mahdi and why do Shiites expect his return?		41

Question Nine If SHIITES are right, then why are they in the minority, and why have most other Muslims not recognized this religious sect?		44

Question Ten What does Raj`ah mean and why do Shiites believe in it?		47
	1) Philosophy of Raj`ah 2) Raj`ah vs. Transmigration	49 50

Question Eleven What does intercession mean and why do Shiites believe in it?		51
	Limitations The Philosophy of Intercession Results of Intercession	51 52 52

Question Twelve Is it not “Shirk” (polytheism) to ask the real interceders to intercede?		53
	Discussion	53

Question Thirteen Does asking for help from others than God connote polytheism?		57

Question Fourteen Does calling on others (Du`a') necessarily mean worshipping them (`Ibadah) and is it therefore a kind of polytheism?		59
	Conclusion	61

Question Fifteen What is Bada' and why do Shiites believe in it?		63
	Conclusion The Philosophy of Bada’	64 65

Question Sixteen Do the SHIITES Believe That the Qur’an Has Been Distorted?		66
	Conclusion	72

Question Seventeen How do Shiites regard the Companions?		75
	The Qur’an and the Companions 1. The Vanguard 2. Those Who Swore Allegiance under the tree 3. The Muhajirun (the Immigrants) 4. Companions in the Conquest (of Mecca) 1) The Undisguised Hypocrites 2) The Disguised Hypocrites 3. The Diseased-hearted 4) The Wrongdoers Conclusion	77 77 77 77 77 78 78 78 78 80

Question Eighteen What is meant by mut`ah and why is it allowed by Shiism?		81

Question Nineteen Why do Shiites prostrate on Turbah?		89
	Conclusion	95

Question Twenty Why do the Shiites kiss the doors and the walls of the shrines and seek blessings thereof?		97

Question Twenty-one Does Islam not consider religion and politics separate?		101
	The Prophet, the founder of the Islamic Government	102

Question Twenty-Two Why Do the Shiites say that Imam `Ali’s sons, Hasan and Husayn Are the Prophet’s sons?		107

Question Twenty–Three Why do the Shiites consider that the successorship to the Prophet is decided by God’s command and introduced by the Prophet himself?		111
	Social Considerations Prove the Need for the Divine Nomination Further Explanations Textual Evidence on the Prophet’s Clear Expression	111 112 114

Question Twenty-Four Does swearing by other than God imply polytheism?		116
	Conclusion	119

Question Twenty-Five Does Resorting to Saints Imply Associating Others with God and Is it A Source of Innovation?		120
	Forms of Tawassul 1. Our Worthy Deeds 2. Resorting to Honorable People’s Prayers 3. Persons Highly Honored by God	121 121 121 121

Question Twenty-Six Isn't commemorating the birthday of the saints an innovation in religion and polytheism?		125
	1. Celebration: a Sign of Love 2. Celebration: Paying Homage to the Prophet 3. Holding Ceremonies Is Obeying God. 4. Divine Revelation Is Not Inferior to the Heavenly Food 5. Muslim's Life Style	125 125 126 126 127

Question Twenty-Seven Why Do Shiites Perform Ritual Prayers Three Times a Day Instead of Five?		128
	Conclusion A: The Shiites’ Viewpoint B: Others’ Point of View The Narrations Conclusion Successive Performance of Prayers at Arafah Prayers Performed on a Trip, Another Example Successive Performance of Prayers in Time of Emergency: An Example showing one's Choice The Companions of the Prophets’ Behavior The Prophet’s Manner, an indication of performing the prayers successively	130 130 132 132 139 140 141 141 142 142

Question Twenty-Eight What Are The Sources for the Shiite Jurisprudence?		144
	The Book of Allah (The Qur’an) The Prophet’s Sunnah Nature of the words of the Prophet’s itrah Reasons for the authenticity of Ahl al-Bayt and the necessity to follow them Who are itrah of the Prophet (a.s)? Conclusion	144 145 147 148 150 153

Question Twenty-Nine Why do you pay visits to Abu-Talib’s grave, and did he die a Muslim?		154
	The Family Abu-Talib from the view point of `Abd al-Muttalib Evidence in Support of Abu-Talib’s Faith His Poems Abu-Talib’s Behavior towards the Prophet: a Sign of His Faith 3. Abu-Talib’s Last Testament: a Clear Proof to His Faith 4. The Prophet’s Admiration: Evidence to Abu-Talib’s Faith 5. The Prophet’s Companions’ Testimony 6. Abu-Talib from the Point of View of the Prophet’s Household Unauthenticity of the Chain of Narrators of Zohzah Narration Sufyan ibn Sa`id Thawri `Abd al-Malik Ibn `Umayr `Abd al-`Aziz Ibn Muhammad Darawardi Layth Ibn Sa`d The Text of Zohzah Hadith is Incompatible with Book and Sunnah The Quran: The Prophet’s Sunnah Conclusion	154 155 157 157 159 161 161 162 163 166 166 166 167 167 168 169 169 169

Question Thirty Do the Shiites believe that Angel Gabriel acted treacherously in Fulfilling his mission, delivering the Divine Message to the Prophet Instead of delivering it to `Ali ibn Abi-Talib?		170
	The Origin of the Accusation Prophethood as viewed by Shiites	170 171

Question Thirty-one What Criterion Is There for Dissimulation?		174
	Dissimulation as Viewed by the Qur’an Dissimulation as the Shiites View it Conclusion	174 175 176

Question Thirty-Two Why is the Ja`fari faith considered the official religion in the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran?		177
	The Criterion for Choosing the Ja`fari Faith The Status of Other Islamic Faiths	178 178

Question Thirty–three Do the Shiites consider witr prayer a religious duty?		180

Question Thirty-four Is Belief in the Invisible Power of God's Saints A Source of Polytheism?		181
	The Saints’ Hidden Authority as Viewed in the Qur'an a) Prophet Moses’ Hidden Power b) Jesus Christ’s Hidden Authority c) Prophet Solomon’s Hidden Power	182 183 183 183

Question Thirty-Five Why is Imamate Considered Higher in Rank than Prophethood?		185
	1) The Rank of Prophethood 2) The Divine Mission 3) The Status of Imamate Superiority of the Position of Imamate Is Concomitancy of Prophethood and Imamate a Necessity?	185 186 186 189 190

Question Thirty-six What Criterion Distinguishes Monotheism from Polytheism?		192
	1) Unity of the Divine Essence 2) Divine Oneness in Creation 3) Oneness in Regulating the Affairs 4) Oneness in Sovereignty 5) Monotheism in Obedience 6) Oneness in Legislation 7) Unity in Worship Worship, Misinterpreted A Strange Alibi Solution: What Worship Means	192 193 194 194 195 195 195 196 197 197

THE SHIITE APOLOGETICS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THE SHIITE
APOLOGETICS