In accordance with firm historical evidence and abundant traditions, the origin and formation of Shiaism was during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and also the term Shi'a was introduced by the prophet...
In accordance with firm historical evidence and abundant traditions, the origin and formation of Shiaism was during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) and also the term Shi'a was introduced by the prophet.
There are many hadiths in both Shia and Sunni sources that indicate that the Prophet himself was the one who named the followers of Imam Ali as “Shi’a” (followers) . I will mention some of them. These are, however, a few of the most important narrations, and there are many more to be found in the sources.
(1) Ibn 'Asakir (d. 571 A.H.) narrated from Jabir b. 'Abdullah al-Ansari that he said:
Once we were with the Prophet Muhammad, when Ali arrived, upon which the Prophet said, 'I swear by Him who has my life in His hand that surely this man and his Shi’a will be happy on the Day of Resurrection and then the verse “Surely those who believe and do good deeds are the best of men” (98:7)[1] was revealed. Later, whenever the companions of the Prophet Muhammad saw Ali coming, they would say, “The best of men has came”.[2]
(2) Ibn Hajar (d. 974) narrated from Ibn Abbas that when the verse (98:7) was revealed the Prophet told Ali:
“Those are you and your Shi’a. You and your Shi’a will come on the day of Resurrection while you will be pleased and well pleasing (to God) and your enemies will come while they will be angry and seized by their necks”. (Ibn Hajar, Section 11, Chapter 1, the Verse 11)[3]
(3) In the same book, Ibn Hajar has also narrated from Umm Salamah that one night when the Prophet was in her house, his daughter Fatimah arrived, with Ali following her. Then the Prophet said:
O Ali! You and your companions are in Heaven. You and your Shi’a are in Heaven..[4]
There are yet other hadiths in which the Prophet, addressing Ali, used the expression " Shi’a of your descendants". This confirms that the Shi’a are those who follow Ali because they believe in the institution of Imamate. the Shi’a believe that Ali was the first Imam and after him the institution of Imamate continued in those offspring of Ali and Fatimah that were chosen by God and introduced by the Prophet.
For example, Zamakhshari (d. 528 A.H.) in his Rabi’ al-Abrar reports that the Prophet said:
"O Ali! When the Day of Resurrection comes I will hold on to God, you will hold on to me, your descendants will hold on to you and their Shi'a will hold on to them. Then you will see where we will be taken."[5]
Notes:
[1] إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ
[2] Ibn ‘Asakir, Vol. 2, p. 442 & al-Suyuti, Vol. 6, p. 5890
كنا عند النبي فأقبل علي بن أبي طالب فقال النبي قد أتاكم أخي ثم التفت إلى الكعبة فضربها بيده ثم قال والذي نفسي بيده إن هذا وشيعته هم الفائزون يوم القيامة قال ونزلت : إن الذين آمنوا وعملوا الصالحات أولئك هم خير البرية. فكان أصحاب محمد إذا أقبل على قالوا قد جاء خير البرية. جا ء خيرالبرية.
[3] لما نزلت هذه الآية : { إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُوْلَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ } قال النبي ( صلى الله عليه و آله ) لعلي ( عليه السلام : هم أنت وشيعتك ، تأتي أنت وشيعتك يوم القيامة راضين مرضيين ، ويأتي عدوك غضبانا مفحمين خائبين .
[4] al-Sawaeeq al-Muhriqa. P 161
«أنت و اصحابک فی الجّنه . أنت و شیعتک فی الجّنه»
[5] Rabi’ al-Abrar. Vol, 6, p. 104.
يا علي اذا کان يوم القيامة اخذت بحجزة الله، وانت اخذت بحجزتي، واخذ ولدک بحجزتک وأخذ شيعة ولدک بحجزتک وأخذ شيعة ولدک بحجزهم فنريَ اين يؤمر بنا.