Wilayah of Imam Ali (عليه السلام)

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3 years 3 months ago #1094 by Allahu Akbar
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

In Zaydiyya is Wilayah of Imam Ali (عليه السلام) considered part of Usul Al Deen? If it is, does this mean someone is not mu'min and does not go to heaven without believing in it?

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3 years 3 months ago - 3 years 3 months ago #1097 by Imam Rassi Society
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Thank you for your question! This one is a bit more difficult to answer. The earliest Zaydi imams held to the belief in the wilaya as a precondition of belief. Imam al-Haadi (as) said in his Ahkaam very explicitly that the term 'belief' cannot be applied to one who doesn't accept the wilaya.Imam ar-Rassi (as) has a whole treatise on the obligation to believe in the wilaya. We also have statements from Imam Ja'far as-Saadiq (as) in which he was asked if rejecting the wilaya makes one a disbeliever and he replied in the affirmative.

However, the difficulty arises in the actual application of this. No imam or scholar explicitly says that such person would go to the Hellfire, nor are any of the Islamic laws waived from such person, such as adaala in testimony or leading the prayer, etc. So it would seem that the precondition of the wilaaya is moreso theoretical than practical. However, what that means, I don't know.

And Allah knows best!

IRS
Last edit: 3 years 3 months ago by Imam Rassi Society.
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3 years 3 months ago #1098 by Allahu Akbar
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Is it possible that "Wilayah" in these narrations means only the authority and imamah of Imam Ali (عليه السلام)? Or does it necessarily mean that he is the successor to the Prophet (صل الله عليه وآله وسلم)? This is because Ahl al Sunnah believe in the authority and imamah of Imam Ali (عليه السلام), but not that he is the direct successor to the Prophet (صل الله عليه وآله وسلم).
Also, what is the Zaydi view on Twelver Shi'as?

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3 years 3 months ago #1100 by Imam Rassi Society
wa alaykum as salaam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

Thank you for your questions! As for the intended meaning of wilaya, it refers the Ali's authority after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny. The references I mentioned above explicitly says "...after the Prophet." For example, Imam ar-Rassi(as) says: "The imam obligatory to obey after the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his progeny, was Ali." So, this leaves no room for the '4th caliph' belief.

As for the Zaydi view on the 12ers, that question is a bit tricky. I guess it would depend on whether you want the traditional view or the modern view. In general, the Zaydis see the 12er and Ismaili Shiism as a gross misrepresentation of the doctrines of the imams of Ahl al-Bayt (as)--and that is just putting it nicely. The Imami doctrine was said to be the product of Abbassid forgery in order to dissuade those loyal to Ahl al-Bayt from revolting with a more revolutionary Zaydi imam. Traditionally, Zaydis lumped the 12ers and Ismailis together under the name 'Raafida' and some of our principle imams attributed kufr to them due to some of their beliefs at the time---one of which was tajseem. However, nowadays, due to some political alliances as well as the overall solidarity regarding wilaya of Ahl al-Bayt, many of our modern scholars have become more lenient with 12ers.

And Allah knows best!

IRS
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