Isn't the action of these eminent companions of the Holy Prophet a model for other Muslims?

Question

There is a hadith from the Prophet saying: "Verily, my companions are like stars; whomever of them you follow, you will be properly guided."
Abu'l-Fida writes in his history that these four men, who were companions of the Prophet, abstained, along with Ali, from paying allegiance to Abu Bakr, on the Saqifa day. Why don't you consider their refusal to pay allegiance to be worthy of emulation? Sunni ulema have written that they were loved by Allah and His Prophet. We follow them, as they followed Ali. Hence, according to Sunni hadith, we (Shia) are on the path of guidance.

I (Sultanu'l-Wa'izin Shirazi) present to you a few narrations in support of my contention that these men were loved by Allah and the Prophet. Both Abu Nu'aim Isfahani in Hilyatu'l-Auliya, Vol. I, p. 172, and Ibn Hajar Makki in the fifth hadith of the forty hadith narrated in Sawa'iq-e Muhriqa in praise of Ali narrated from Tirmidhi, and Hakim from Buraida, that the Prophet said:
"Verily, Allah has commanded me to love four persons and has told me that He loves them." When the people asked who these four persons were, he said: "Ali bin Abu Talib, Abu Dharr, Miqdad, and Salman."
Again, Ibn Hajar in Hadith No. 39 has narrated from Tirmidhi and Hakim from Anas bin Malik that the Prophet said: "Paradise is eager for three individuals, Ali, Ammar, and Salman."
Isn't the action of these eminent companions of the Holy Prophet a model for other Muslims?

Isn't it shameful that in your view the companions are restricted to those persons who played the game of Saqifa, or who acquiesced in it, while the others who opposed the strategy behind Saqifa are seen as being unreliable?
And if that be so, then the hadith should have been: "Verily, a few of my companions are like stars, etc."

Answer 1

Sister ! You are right ! Thankyou for asking this question. You can take help from these websites for research of more sources.

http://www.al-islam.org/ ( The best Islamic Encyclopedia )
http://www.sistani.org/ ( Official multi-lingual website of Grand Ayatollah Sistani )

Answer 2

Do you know who is this Abul Fida and his links upto the Messenger??

The main problem with shia is to quote without accepted principles. Why don't you include Abdullah bin Sabah in your eminent leaders?

Plz. do not open a Pendora-Box.

Shia and Sunny are Muslims and they have no dispute in Faith of Islam.I think we should not discuss political matters here. Let the Almighty decide what is good for us!

Peace & Blessings!

Answer 3

hmmm, i really didn't understand a bit of what u r saying,

Answer 4

al-Azhar Verdict on the Shia

What follows is the Fatwa (religious verdict/ruling) of one of the Sunni world's most revered scholars, Shaikh Mahmood Shaltoot with regard to the Shia. Shaikh Shaltoot was the head of the renowned al-Azhar Theological school in Egypt, one of the main centers of Sunni scholarship in the world. It should be of interest to know that a few decades ago, a group of Sunni and Shia scholars formed a center at al-Azhar by the name of "Dar al-Taqreeb al-Madhahib al-Islamiyyah" which translates into "Center for bringing together the various Islamic schools of thought". The aim of the effort, as the name of the center indicates, was to bridge the gap between the various schools of thought, and bring about a mutual respect, understanding and appreciation of each school's contributions to the development of Islamic Jurisprudence, among the scholars of the different schools, so that they may in turn guide their followers toward the ultimate goal of unity, and of clinging to one rope, as the well-known Quranic verse, "Hold fast to the Rope of Allah and do not diverge" clearly demands of Muslims.

This massive effort finally bore its major fruit when Shaikh Shaltoot made the declaration whose translation is appended below. It should be made unequivocally clear as well, that al-Azhar's official position, vis a vis the propriety of following any of the Madhaahib, including the Shi'ite Imami school, has remained unchanged since Shaikh Shaltoot's declaration.

Some people who follow pseudo-scholars in Hijaz may beg to differ; that notwithstanding, what you see below is the view held by the overwhelming majority of Sunni scholars, and not just those at al-Azhar. Let it be known to those who strive to divide us, that their efforts are but in vain.

For the readership's reference the phrase "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah al-Ithna 'Ashariyyah" means the Twelver Imami Shi'ite School of thought which comprises the overwhelming majority of Shi'ites today. The phrase "Twelver Shi'ites" is used interchangeably with "Ja'fari Shi'ites" and "Imami Shi'ites" in various literature. They are merely different names for the same school of thought.

"al-Shia al-Zaidiyyah" are a minority among the Shi'ites, concentrated mainly in Yemen located in the Eastern part of Arabian peninsula. For a more detailed description of the Zaidis vs. the Twelver Shi'ites, please refer to the book, "Shi'ite Islam" written by the great Shi'ite scholar, Allamah Tabataba'i, and translated by Seyyed Hossein Nasr, and published by the State University of New York Press (SUNY).

And as for Shaikh Shaltoot's declaration ...

Head Office of al-Azhar University:

IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL

Text of the Verdict (Fatwa) Issued by His Excellency
Shaikh al-Akbar Mahmood Shaltoot,
Head of the al-Azhar University,
on Permissibility of Following "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah"
School of Thought

His Excellency was asked:

Some believe that, for a Muslim to have religiously correct worship and dealing, it is necessary to follow one of the four known schools of thought, whereas, "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah" school of thought is not one of them nor "al-Shia al-Zaidiyyah." Do your Excellency agree with this opinion, and prohibit following "al-Shia al-Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" school of thought, for example?
His Excellency replied:

1) Islam does not require a Muslim to follow a particular Madh'hab (school of thought). Rather, we say: every Muslim has the right to follow one of the schools of thought which has been correctly narrated and its verdicts have been compiled in its books. And, everyone who is following such Madhahib [schools of thought] can transfer to another school, and there shall be no crime on him for doing so.

2) The Ja'fari school of thought, which is also known as "al-Shia al- Imamiyyah al-Ithna Ashariyyah" (i.e., The Twelver Imami Shi'ites) is a school of thought that is religiously correct to follow in worship as are other Sunni schools of thought.

Muslims must know this, and ought to refrain from unjust prejudice to any particular school of thought, since the religion of Allah and His Divine Law (Shari'ah) was never restricted to a particular school of thought. Their jurists (Mujtahidoon) are accepted by Almighty Allah, and it is permissible to the "non-Mujtahid" to follow them and to accord with their teaching whether in worship (Ibadaat) or transactions (Mu'amilaat).

Signed,
Mahmood Shaltoot.

Answer 5

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