The word “Shi’a”means “followers; members of party”. The word Shi’a has occurred in the Holy Quran many times in reference to the followers of the previous prophets- Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) and Prophet Musa (Moses).
“And most surely Abraham was among the Shi’a of him (i.e., Noah)”(Qur’an 37:83)
﴾ وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ﴿الصافات: ٨٣
“And he (Moses) went into the city at a time when people (of the city) were not watching, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his Shi’a and the other beinghis enemy, and the one who was of his Shi’a cried out to him for help against the one who was of his enemy”(Qur’an 28:15)
فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ وَهَـٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ ۖفَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ.
In the History of Islam, Shi’a has been specially used for the “followers of ‘Ali”. The first individual who used this term was the Messenger of Allah himself:
The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) said to ‘Ali: “Glad tiding O ‘Ali! Verily you and your companions and your Shi’a (followers) will be in Paradise.”
يا علي أبشر فإنك و أصحابك و شيعتك في الجنَّة
Sunni references:
- Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p655
- Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu’aym, v4, p329
- Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v12, p289
- al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani
- Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v10, pp 21-22
- al-Darqunti, who said this tradition has been transmitted via numerous authorities.
- al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p247
So, the phrase ‘Shia of Ali’ was not invented after Prophet (s.a.w.w) but was used during his time by himself.]
Some narrations in which the Prophet Muhammad used the term “Shi‘a of ‘Ali” are as follows:
Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (S) said: “The Shi’a of ‘Ali are the real victorious in the day of resurrection/rising”
شيعة علي هم الفائزون يوم القيامة
Sunni references:
- al-Manaqib Ahmad, as mentioned in:
- Yanabi al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, p62
- Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Hafidh Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, who quotes the tradition as follows: “We were with the Holy Prophet when ‘Ali came towards us. The Holy Prophet said: He and his Shi’a will acquire salvation on the day of judgment.”
The parable of ‘Ali is like a tree, in which I am the root, ‘Ali is the branch, Hassan and Husayn are the fruits, and the Shi‘a are the leaves. The parable of ‘Ali is like a tree, in which I am the root, ‘Ali is the branch, Hassan and Husayn are the fruits, and the Shi‘a are the leaves.1
We were gathering around the Prophet when ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib came. He said, ‘Verily, my brother has come to you,’ and he placed his hand on the Ka΄bah and said, ‘By the One Who holds my soul in His hand, this man and his Shi‘a will indeed be the successful ones on the Day of Judgment.’2 (Narrated by Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah al-Ansari)
The Prophet of Allah was with me when his daughter Lady Fatima came to greet him with her husband ‘Ali. The Prophet of Allah raised his head and said, ‘Be happy ‘Ali; you and your Shi‘a will be in Paradise.’3 (Narrated by Umm Salamah, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad)
After the Prophet passed away those who were loyal to Imam ‘Ali were known as the Shi‘a.
But mere claiming being Shi’a doesn’t make one self Shi’a as once Imam Muhammad al-Baqir told his student Jabir, “Is it enough for a person to embellish himself as our Shi‘a (follower) by professing love for us, the Ahlul Bayt? Nay! By Allah, a person is not our follower unless he fears Allah and obeys Him. Our followers are only recognized, O Jabir, by their humility, submission, honesty, abundant praise of Allah, fasting, prayers, goodness to their parents, attention to the poor, needy, debtors, and orphans living nearby, speaking of the truth, recitation of the Qur’an, holding back their tongues except for good words, and trustworthiness towards one’s relatives in all affairs.”4
- Ibn Hajar, Lisan al-Mizan, Vol. 2, 354
- Tawzih al-Dala΄il fiTashih al-Fada΄il, 505
- Ibid., 507
- al-Kulayni, al-Kafi, Vol. 2, 741