Real Shi'a
Encyclopedia
A Real Shi'a is a recurring thought in the Shi'a theology
. It implies that it is not enough to be the partisan of Ali to qualify to bear the title "Shi'a"; rather one must emulate him to near perfection and obey the commands of the current Imam unconditionally.
in which the Shi'a Imams complain about having plenty of Shi'a, but few perfect Shi'a. Salafi
s have been known to quote these hadith to give the impression that the Shi'a Imams distanced themselves from the mainstream Shi'a, or that Shi'a believe most Sahaba
to be apostates.
One such hadith, titled The Four Companions
is as follows:
Another relates Imam Baqir's conversation with Sa'id Ibn Al-Hassan:
A longer quotation from Imam Baqir develops this theme. It is reported in Al Kafi (Volume 2, page 74, Hadith No. 3) that
Muhammad Baqir addressing Jabir said
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
. It implies that it is not enough to be the partisan of Ali to qualify to bear the title "Shi'a"; rather one must emulate him to near perfection and obey the commands of the current Imam unconditionally.
Definition
Shia believe that very few people have these qualities and quote several hadithHadith
The term Hadīth is used to denote a saying or an act or tacit approval or criticism ascribed either validly or invalidly to the Islamic prophet Muhammad....
in which the Shi'a Imams complain about having plenty of Shi'a, but few perfect Shi'a. Salafi
Salafi
A Salafi come from Sunni Islam is a follower of an Islamic movement, Salafiyyah, that is supposed to take the Salaf who lived during the patristic period of early Islam as model examples...
s have been known to quote these hadith to give the impression that the Shi'a Imams distanced themselves from the mainstream Shi'a, or that Shi'a believe most Sahaba
Sahaba
In Islam, the ' were the companions, disciples, scribes and family of the Islamic prophet...
to be apostates.
One such hadith, titled The Four Companions
The Four Companions
The Four Companions, also called the Four Pillars of the Sahaba is a Shi'a term that refers to the four Sahaba Shi'a believe stayed most loyal to ‘Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib after the death of Muḥammad:*Miqdadu bni Aswādi l-Kindiyy*Abū Dharri l-Ghifāriyy...
is as follows:
Another relates Imam Baqir's conversation with Sa'id Ibn Al-Hassan:
- Baqir:Does it happen to you that one of you approaches his brother and he puts his hand into his brother's pocket to take some money of which he is in need, without his brother preventing him?
- Sa'id:I do not know of such a thing.
- Baqir:Then truly, there are no real Shi'i among you.
- Sa'id:Shall we all perish, in that case?
- Baqir: Yes indeed, for such people do not put into action what they say. (al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi)
A longer quotation from Imam Baqir develops this theme. It is reported in Al Kafi (Volume 2, page 74, Hadith No. 3) that
Muhammad Baqir addressing Jabir said