ISLAM FORBIDS BOASTING ABOUT ANCESTORS

Referring to your first point that, since I was originally connected with Arabia, Mecca, and Medina, why should I support the Iranians, I tell you that I have no partisan spirit. Our Prophet said: "The Arabs should not boast that they are superior to non-Arabs and vice versa; and the whites should not boast of their superiority to the blacks and vice versa. Superiority lies only in knowledge and piety. In the Holy Qur'an, Allah says: 'O men! Surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty).'" (49:13)

Also, in the same chapter in the Qur'an, He says: "The believers are brethren; therefore, make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you." (49:10)

Accordingly, all Asians, Africans, Europeans, Americans of white, black, red, or yellow races who are Muslims are brothers, and no one can claim superiority to another. The greatest leader of Islam, the last of the Prophets, acted on this principle. He showed his special affection for Salman Farsi of Iran, Suhaib of Asia Minor, and Bilal of Abyssinia. On the other hand, he rejected Abu Lahab (whose name means 'Father of Flame'), his own uncle who was condemned by a chapter of the Holy Qur'an which said: "Perish the hands of the Father of Flame! Perish he!" (111:1)

ISLAM ALSO FORBIDS RACISM

The world has witnessed disturbances of the worst order in Western countries which were the result of racial discrimination. In those countries black people are not allowed in hotels, restaurants, churches, and other congregations meant for white people. Islam banned such cruel practices 1,300 years ago and proclaimed that all Muslims, regardless of race, color, or nationality are brothers. So if the Arabs go astray, I will condemn them, and I will be the friend of the Iranian Shias.

Second, you have associated Iranian extremists with the Shias, who are steadfast monotheists and follow Ali according to the commands of the Prophet. We regard Ali as a pious servant of Allah and the divinely appointed successor of the Holy Prophet.

CONDEMNATION OF THE EXTREMISTS

Moreover, we reject those whose beliefs are contrary to ours, like the Saba'iyya, the Khitabiyya, the Gharabiyya, the Alawiyya, the Mukhammasa, the Bazighiyya, the Nussairiyya, who are scattered throughout Iran, Mosul, and Syria. We Shias are distinct from them and consider them infidels. In all the books written by Shia ulema and legal scholars, the Ghalis (extremists) are included among the disbelievers, since their belief is against the tenets of Shia'ism. For instance, they argue that, since the infusion of the soul into a material body is possible (as Gabriel could appear before the Holy Prophet in the form of Dahiyya-e-Kalbi), it was Allah's will that His Holy Self appear in human form in Ali's body.

For this reason they consider the position of Ali higher than that of the Prophet. Such a faction emerged during Ali's own time. Some people of India and the Sudan came to him and professed that he was Allah.

Ali repeatedly forbade them to hold this view, but to no effect. Finally, as is recorded in many histories, Ali ordered them to be killed in wells of smoke. The details of this case have been given in Baharu'l-Anwar, Volume VII, by the great Alim, Agha Muhammad Baqir Majlisi. The Commander of the Faithful and other Imams bitterly condemned such people. Ali said: "O Allah, I scorn the group of Ghullat (extremists), just as Jesus scorned the Christians. May you forsake them forever." On another occasion he said: "There are two groups who will suffer humiliating death, and I am not responsible for them (since I disdain their deeds): those who exceed the lawful limits of love for me and are Ghullat (extremists), and those who, for no reason whatsoever, are hostile to me. I hate those who extol my position beyond its proper limit, just as Christ hated the Christians."

He also said: "There are two groups associated with me who will suffer ignoble death: one is composed of those people who say they are friends and praise me beyond lawful limit; the other is composed of the enemies who degrade my rank."

The Shias condemn those who praised Ali and his Ahle Bait beyond the limit ordained by Allah and the Prophet. Our ulema have unanimously held that they are all disbelievers. It is not permitted to attend their funerals or to marry them. They are also deprived of inheriting Muslim property; charity and religious taxes may not be given to them. The Holy Qur'an condemns them in these words: "Say: O followers of the Book, be not immoderate in your religion, and do not follow the low desires of people who went astray before and led many astray and went astray from the right path." (5:80)

Allama Majlisi, in his Baharu'l-Anwar Volume III, which is the encyclopedia of the Shia faith, has recorded many hadith condemning the Ghullat (extremists). Imam Ja'far Sadiq is quoted as saying, "We are servants of Allah, Who created us and made us superior to the others of His creation. Certainly we shall die and shall stand before Allah for reckoning. He who is a friend of the Ghalis is our enemy; and he who is their enemy is our friend. The Ghalis are infidels and polytheists; curse be upon them." A great religious head of the Shias has also quoted the same Imam as saying, "Allah's curse be upon those who claim divinity and godhood for Ali. By Allah, Ali was an obedient servant of Allah. Curse be upon those who have slandered us; some people say things about us that we do not say ourselves. We declare that we have no connection with them."

Sheikh Saduq (Abu Ja'far Muhammad Bin Ali), a highly respected Faqih (legal scholar) of the Shias, quotes Zarara Bin A'yun, a reliable Shia writer, who was a hafiz and companion of Imam Muhammad Baqir and Imam Ja'far Sadiq, as saying: "I told Imam Ja'far Sadiq that one of the persons known to him believes in Tufwiz (delegation of Divine authority). The Imam said: 'What is meant by Tufwiz?' I replied, 'The man says that Allah created Muhammad and Ali and then delegated to them His authority over the affairs of the people. So they are the creators, the givers of food; they are the animators, and they are the killers.' The holy Imam said: 'The enemy of Allah lies. When you go back to him, read him this verse from the Holy Qur'an: "....or have they set up with Allah associates who have created creation like His, so that what is created became confused to them? Say: 'Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the Supreme.'" (13:16)

SHIAS SEPARATE FROM GHALIS

We Shias are separate from the Ghalis (extremists). Let them claim that they are Shias. Allah, the holy Prophet, Ali, and their descendants hate them. Ali kept the chief of the Ghullat in prison for three days, and ordered him to repent for his wickedness. When he refused, Ali had him burned to death. If you cannot produce a single book in which the Ghalis have been praised, you should at least condemn the intolerant ulema who misguide the Sunnis about the Shias.

CLARIFICATION ABOUT REVERENCE TOWARDS IMAMS

Hafiz: Your brotherly advice is worth consideration. But would you please clarify some other points? You have all along said that you do not unduly praise your Imams. You regard the Ghullat as contemptible and fit for hell, but you use inappropriate expressions regarding your Imams. You have said "Blessings of Allah be upon them," although you know that, according to the Holy Qur'an, this expression is reserved only for the Holy Prophet. The Qur'an says: "Surely Allah and His angels bless the Prophet; O you who believe, call for (Divine) blessings on him and salute him with a (becoming) salutation." (33:56) Your practice clearly violates the injunction of the Holy Qur'an. Your expression is an innovation.

Well-Wisher: This verse does not forbid us to bless any other person. We are enjoined to bless the Prophet. In another verse of the Holy Qur'an, Allah says: "Peace be on the people of Ya Sin (Ahle Ya Sin)," a reference to the descendants of the Prophet. As for the other Prophets of Allah, blessings have not been given to their descendants anywhere in the Holy Qur'an. Blessings have been given only to the prophets of Allah. "Peace and Salutation to Noah among the nations." (37:79): "Peace and salutation to Abraham." (37:109): "Peace and salutation to Moses and Aaron." (37:120).

THE PEOPLE OF YA SIN REFERS TO THE PEOPLE OF MUHAMMAD

All commentators and scholars of your own sect admit that Allah has addressed the Prophet as Ya Seen. Hence, Ahle (the people of) Ya Sin means the people of Muhammad. Among others, Ibn Hajar Makki, a very intolerant Sunni scholar, says in Sawa'iq Muhriqa, under the verses quoted in commendation of the Ahle Bait, that a group of commentators quoted Ibn Abbas (commentator, and the chief of the believers) as saying that Ahle Ya Sin means Ahle Muhammad. Therefore, salaam, the greeting of peace, for Ahle Ya Sin means salaam for Ahle Muhammad. Imam Fakhru'd-Din Razi writes: "The Ahle Bait of the Prophet are equal to him in five matters:

1) The salaam: salaam for the Prophet and salaam for Ahle Ya Sin (Ahle Muhammad) are the same thing.

2) The salawat (blessings) in ritual prayers for the Prophet and his Ahle Bait, which is compulsory.

3) Purity: Allah says in the sura of "Ta Ha" (20:1): "(0 Prophet) Clean and Pure:" The verse of purity was revealed in praise of the Ahle Bait.

4) Unlawfulness of charity: Charity may not be accepted either by the Prophet or by his Ahle Bait.

5) Love: Love for the Prophet means love for his Ahle Bait. Allah Almighty says, "Say: if you love Allah, then follow me, Allah will love you..." (3:31) And about the Ahle Bait Allah says, "... Say: I do not ask of you any reward for it but love for my near relatives..." (42:23)

SALAWAT (BLESSINGS) ON MUHAMMAD AND AHLE-MUHAMMAD IS THE SUNNA (COMMENDABLE), AND IN RITUAL PRAYER IT IS COMPULSORY

Many of those relating hadith, particularly Bukhari in his Sahih, Volume III, and Muslim in his Sahih, Volume I, Sulayman Balkhi in his Yanabiu'l Mawadda, and even Hajar in his Sawa'iq quotes Ka'b Bin Ajza as saying: "When the verse: 'Verily, Allah and His angels bless the Prophet...' (33:56) was revealed, we asked the Holy Prophet, 'How should we pray for our blessings for you, Apostle of Allah?' The Prophet replied, 'Pray for your blessings in this way: "O Allah, bless (the Prophet) Muhammad and Ahle Muhammad."'"

Imam Fakhru'd-Din Razi, in Volume VI of his Tafsir-e-Kabir, also narrates a similar hadith. Ibn Hajar, commenting on the tradition, indicates that it is clear from the hadith that praying for blessings for the Holy Prophet is equal to praying for blessings on his descendants as well. He also quotes the Holy Prophet as saying: "Don't be incomplete in praying for blessings for me." When asked what he meant by 'incomplete' blessings, he said: "Do not say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad,' but say, 'O Allah, bless Muhammad and his descendants.'"

Dailami writes that the Prophet said: "Our prayer remains obstructed unless we pray for blessings upon the Prophet and his people." Shafi'i says, "O Ahle Bait! In the Holy Qur'an Allah has made love for you compulsory for us. Regarding the loftiness of your rank and position, it is sufficient to know that if a man does not pray for divine blessings for you, his prayer is not accepted." If the prayer for blessings for the Prophet and his descendants is deliberately omitted, the ritual prayer is rejected. And the Prophet said: "The ritual prayer is the pillar of faith; if the prayer is accepted, all other deeds are accepted; if it is rejected, all other deeds are rejected."

To pray for divIne blessings for the Ahle Bait is the sunna (commendable practice) and a mode of worship which was performed by the Holy Prophet himself. We are proud to do what the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Prophet have enjoined us to do.