WILAYAH NEWS VOICE OF THE GLOBAL AWAKENING
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## Doubts and Responses – Sayyid Sami al‑Badri (1)
### Introduction of the Book
These are modest pages undertaken to respond to some of the doubts that have been raised against Islam and Shiʿism.
The history of raising doubts against Shiʿism in its specific sense (1) is an old one.
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**(1)** This specific sense consists in the belief in twelve infallible proofs (ḥujaj) after the Prophet, who possess his rank in every matter except prophethood and marriage, with Lady al‑Zahraʾ (peace be upon her) included with them in this rank, though without the particular authority (of leadership). It also consists in the belief that the Awaited Mahdi, whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) gave glad tidings of, is Muhammad ibn al‑Hasan al‑ʿAskari (peace be upon them both), born in the year 255 AH; and that he entered into occultation by the command of God—two occultations:
– A **Minor Occultation**, during which he had four deputies through whom his news and directives were known. The last of them died in 329 AH.
– With his death began the **Major Occultation**, during which his direct communication ceased.
He instructed his Shiʿa during the Major Occultation to refer to the narrators of traditions—the just jurists—concerning newly occurring matters. It is narrated from him (peace be upon him) that he said:
> “As for the newly occurring events, refer in them to the narrators of our traditions, for they are my proof over you, and I am God’s proof.”
He also instructed them—as his forefathers had instructed before him—to await relief through his reappearance at the end of time, alongside Jesus (peace be upon him), so that God may establish through them, and at their hands, the most magnificent era awaited by the believers.
> “And We have already written in the Psalms after the Reminder that the earth shall be inherited by My righteous servants.” (Qur’an 21:105)
> “And there is none from the People of the Book but that he will surely believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Resurrection he will be a witness against them.” (Qur’an 4:159)
This concept also entails loyalty to these divine proofs and dissociation from their enemies—especially those who opposed them and displaced them from the station and rank which God and His Messenger had assigned to them.
In contrast to this specific concept of Shiʿism, there exists a general concept adopted by Ahl al‑Sunnah, by which they meant preferring ʿAli (peace be upon him) over ʿUthman, or preferring ʿAli (peace be upon him) over Abu Bakr and ʿUmar. They described this form of Shiʿism as a “minor innovation,” and the second type of it as “extreme Shiʿism.”
As for the specific concept, they called it **“Rafḍ” (Rejection)** and the “major innovation,” and they referred to its adherents as **Rāfiḍah (Rejecters)**. They dismissed reliance upon their narrations on the claim that the Rāfiḍah diminish the status of Abu Bakr and ʿUmar (i.e., lower their rank).
(See *Mīzān al‑Iʿtidāl* by al‑Dhahabi, entry on Abān ibn Taghlib; and the introduction to *Tahdhīb al‑Tahdhīb* by Ibn Ḥajar.)
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(9)
This state does not cease except with the appearance of the Mahdi, Muhammad ibn al‑Hasan al‑ʿAskari (may God hasten his relief), supported by divine proofs and confirming the mission of his forefathers (peace be upon them) and their Shiʿa. In this respect, it is analogous to the raising of doubts against the message of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) by the People of the Book, which will not come to an end except with the appearance of Jesus son of Mary (peace be upon him), supported by divine proofs, affirming the message of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him and his family), and abiding by his law.
Just as most of the People of the Book did not believe in the message of Islam despite the clarity of the proofs of its truth, and continued raising doubt after doubt over time…
(10)
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If you would like, I can also provide:
– A more academic-style translation
– A simplified/modern English version
– Or a summarized version for easier reading
