Were Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) a Shia?

Authored by: Maulana Abu al-Hasan Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)

Question:
Were Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) a Shia?

Answer:
The word "Shia" simply means a group or a faction. In the Quran, "Shia" is not used to denote any specific religious sect. It is entirely incorrect for Shia scholars to cite the verse from Surah As-Saffat:

"وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ"

(As-Saffat: 37:83)

to claim that Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) was a Shia by religion.

The term "Shia" used in reference to Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) here means a follower or supporter, not the current Shia sect. The clear meaning of this verse is that Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) was from the group of Prophet Nuh (Peace Be Upon Him), meaning he followed the same monotheistic path as a Prophet of Allah. Elsewhere in the Quran, where the religion of Prophet Ibrahim (Peace Be Upon Him) is mentioned, it states:

"مَا كَانَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ يَهُودِيًّا وَلَا نَصْرَانِيًّا وَلَـكِنْ كَانَ حَنِيفًا مُسْلِمًا وَمَا كَانَ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ"

(Aal-E-Imran: 3:67)

Translation:

"Ibrahim was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was an upright Muslim."

Here, Allah describes him as "Hanif Muslim" (upright and devoted to monotheism). If he belonged to the Shia religion, Allah would have stated, “But he was a Shia.” However, the Quran does not mention it in this way.

In various verses, the Quran uses the term "Shia" to describe wrongdoers, corrupt individuals, and instigators of chaos. For example, Allah says:

"وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ فِي شِيَعِ الْأَوَّلِينَ ﴿١٠﴾ وَمَا يَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا كَانُوا بِهِ يَسْتَهْزِئُونَ"

(Al-Hijr: 15:10-11)

Translation:
"We sent messengers among the earlier factions, but whenever a messenger came to them, they mocked him."

If "Shia" here referred to the current Shia sect, it would imply that those who mocked the messengers were Shia. Commenting on this verse, Shia commentator Ammar Ali writes:

"Here, 'Shia' refers to those disbelievers who mocked the messengers."

(Tafseer Umdat al-Bayan, 2/174)

In another verse, Allah states:

"قُلْ هُوَ الْقَادِرُ عَلَى أَنْ يَبْعَثَ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابًا مِنْ فَوْقِكُمْ أَوْ مِنْ تَحْتِ أَرْجُلِكُمْ أَوْ يَلْبِسَكُمْ شِيَعًا وَيُذِيقَ بَعْضَكُمْ بَأْسَ بَعْضٍ"

(Al-An’am: 6:65)

Translation:
"Say, 'He has power to send torment upon you from above or from beneath your feet or to divide you into factions and make you taste the violence of one another.'"

If "Shia" here refers to the Shia sect, it leaves no doubt about the affliction of Allah’s punishment on them. Regarding this verse, Shia commentator Ammar Ali explains:

"In this verse, 'Shia' refers to wrongdoers, troublemakers, and instigators."

(Umdat al-Bayan, 1/353)

Another verse states:

"إِنَّ فِرْعَوْنَ عَلَا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَجَعَلَ أَهْلَهَا شِيَعًا"

(Al-Qasas: 28:4)

Translation:
"Indeed, Pharaoh exalted himself in the land and divided its people into factions."

This verse indicates that Pharaoh was the one who divided people into groups or "Shia."

In yet another verse, Allah says:

"وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَلَا تَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ﴿٣١﴾ مِنَ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا"

(Ar-Rum: 30:31-32)

Translation:
"Establish prayer and do not be among those who associate others with Allah – those who split their religion and became factions."

Commenting on this verse, a Shia commentator mentions:

"Here, 'Shia' refers to polytheists, idol-worshippers, enemies of the religion, and the Jews and Christians."

(Umdat al-Bayan, 3/13)

Finally, Allah states:

"إِنَّ الَّذِينَ فَرَّقُوا دِينَهُمْ وَكَانُوا شِيَعًا لَسْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ"

(Al-An’am: 6:159)

Translation:
"Indeed, those who divided their religion and became factions, you are not associated with them."

This verse clearly declares that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) has no connection with those who became factions or "Shia." Any group with which Allah’s Messenger (Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him) has no affiliation is undoubtedly misguided.

In these verses, "Shia" primarily denotes division or factionalism. If "Shia" were taken to mean a specific sect, it would be clear from these verses what the term "Shia" denotes in the Quran.
 
Back
Top