| Shia |
| IRAN: Religions - Shia |
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Most of Iranians are Shi'ite moslems although other major religions are also practiced by some Iranians. As an Islamic sect, Shi'ism is not a new religion. In fact, some scholars believe that it did began with the beginning of Islam. However, the sect emerged when the issue of succession to holy prophet broke out. From the Shi'ite point of view, the religion is divided into two sections; namely knowledge and practice. The matters concerning knowledge are the fundamentals of religion. These fundamentals are categorized under five topics: monotheism, prophethood , vicegerency , justice and the resurrection Based on the principle of monotheism , moslems bbelieve in God's oneness and divinity. According to the same principle , man should ascribe no partner to god On the basis of Islamic beliefs, all the prophets were appointed by God. Prophet Mohammad (s.a.w.), however, is the final prophet and God has ssent no other prophet after him. God almighty revealed the Koran, the holy book of Islam, to the holy prophet. What distinguishes the Shi'ite sect from all the others is the sect's treatment of the matter of succession to the prophet. Shi'a people bellieve that Imam Ali (a.s.) and his sons and grandsons are the Imams of moslems; and that the 12th Imam lives in the occult. This is the principle that separates Shi'ism as a school of thought from the other schools. Justice is one of the attributes of God accoording to Shi'ite teachings, based on which God is not unjust to anybody nor does he commit any action that may be judged as bad by man's primordial sensse Like all moslems, the foollowers of the Shi'ite sect also believe that God will bring all people to life again after their death and that man shall be accountible before God on the day of judgement. The resorrection involves the appearance of every person before God in exactly the same bodily form they had while they lived on earth. An order of the Islamic code exists for every matter of life in Shi'ism. There is no action of a sane adult, including mutual transaction, trade, marriage, etc. which is not covered by this code which says whether an action is right or wrong. Like all other moslems, Shi'as believe that religious orders are based upon either the Koran or the sayings , teachings , practise or approval of the prophet. They add to this intellectual reasoning and consensus of opinions as bases from which religious orders are derived. Actios governed by these orders are either concerned with the relationship betweem man and God (like prayers , fasting and pilgrimage), between man and society (transactions, marriage, etc.) or they may be personal matters like tthe way one eats and drinks and the clothes one may choose to wear. All these actions are dealt with orders and commandments that are part of jurisprudence. These actions are classified under heaings like prayers, fasting, taxation, pilgrimage to Mecca , Jihad or the holy war , the enjoinment of good and the prevention of evil; not to mention the laws of marriage, inheritance, jurisdiction and trade that are discussed in lengthy details in the Islamic jurisprudence. Based on the Shari'ah, the divine code of living, every one of man's actions may fall within one of the categories of wajib (compulsory) , haram (unlawful), mustahabb (desirable), makruh (undesirable) and mubah (lawful). Another scholar puts the same idea in other words , saying that the religion is divided into three parts, namely beliefs , ethics and commandments. Based on the Islamic beliefs, God has created the world with an organized order thanks to his infinite power and knowledge. No creature falls outside the purview of the laws of God; and what is more immportant, nothing has been created uselesslly. God has sent instructions by his proophets for man's well being, happiness and prosperity. There is an afterlife in which man's deed will be judged and duely rewarded. The religion , thus, through certain commandments, encourages praiseworthy qualities , good nature and commendable attributes like conscientiousness, benevolence, philanthropy, kindness, faithfulness, justice and pleasing conduct and appearance. Islam teaches man not to transgress his own and his fellow beings' rights and not to encroach upon the property , dignity and lives of people. Islam promotes the search for knowledge and encourages moderation in all affairs of life.  Mashhad, Iran's holiest city, is located 850 kilometers North East of Tehran. Back in the 9th century, Imam Reza was poisoned and martyred in the city. He was the eighth Imam (head spiritual leader) of Shi'ate Islam. His holy position made his tomb a sacred place for pilgrims to worship. |
