Real Shi'a

A Real Shi'a is a recurring thought in the Shi'a theology. It implies that it is not enough to be the partisan of Ali to qualify to bear the title "Shi'a"; rather one must emulate him to near perfection and obey the commands of the current Imam unconditionally.

Definition

Shia believe that very few people have these qualities and quote several hadith in which the Shi'a Imams complain about having plenty of Shi'a, but few perfect Shi'a. Salafis have been known to quote these hadith to give the impression that the Shi'a Imams distanced themselves from the mainstream Shi'a, or that Shi'a believe most Sahaba to be apostates.

One such hadith, titled The Four Companions is as follows:

Another relates Imam Baqir's conversation with Sa'id Ibn Al-Hassan":

:Baqir:"Does it happen to you that one of you approaches his brother and he puts his hand into his brother's pocket to take some money of which he is in need, without his brother preventing him?"

:Sa'id:"I do not know of such a thing."

:Baqir:"Then truly, there are no real Shi'i among you."

:Sa'id:"Shall we all perish, in that case?"

:Baqir: "Yes indeed, for such people do not put into action what they say." (al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi)

A longer quotation from Imam Baqir develops this theme. It is reported in Al Kafi (Volume 2, page 74, Hadith No. 3) that Muhammad Baqir addressing Jabir said

References

{ [reflist

ee also

*Misconceptions about the Shi'a
*All Sahaba are Upright

External links

* [http://www.shiacode.com ShiaCode.com A Guide to Shi'a viewpoints]

Further reading

*Furu al-Kafi: Kitabul Rauda: 115
*Tarikh: al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v12, p289