Difference Between Sunni and Wahabi

Difference Between Sunni and Wahabi
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Difference Between

Sunni vs Wahabi

The major difference between Sunni and Wahabi is the beliefs and rituals. Sunnis are in majority and almost 90% percent of Muslims around the world belong to Sunni sect whereas the members of Wahabi movement are located in Saudi Arab. There are a few main and major as well as many secondary differences between the Sunni and Wahabi Muslims which caused these sects to be cut off from each other and emerge independently.

The major difference between them is that Wahabis believe that Prophet Muhammad should be praised only as a human being whereas Sunnis show extra special care and respect towards the Prophet of Islam.



Sunni Muslims celebrate the birthday of the Holy Prophet and arrange Meelaad. Meelaad is a form of gathering in which the Sunni Muslims get together and praise the Holy Prophet. The birthdays of Sufi saints are also celebrated with much dedication and enthusiasm. The day of their deaths are commemorated in the form of Urs. Wahabi Muslims do not believe in celebrating and practicing all these events which are very strongly rooted in Islam. Wahabis call these practices of events as unlawful and wrongful innovations. Wahabis also believe that this is as close as to shirk or polytheism and Sunnis follow the ways of infidel Hindus.

Sunni Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad is Nur and still present in this world. Whereas Wahabis do not believe in using pious individuals as intermediaries when asking Allah as they consider it shirk or polytheism. Sunnis believe in the saints and mysticism whereas Wahabis do not believe in mysticism, intercession and prostration as well. Sunni Muslims visit the tombs of the saints and perform tawassul for the blessings of Allah whereas it is the greatest sin for a Wahabi.

Sunni Muslims believe in four imams of fiqah or Islamic laws such as Hanfi, Hanbli, Malakii and Shaafeyii whereas Wahabi does not follow an Iman in Fiqh. Wahabi Muslims are a group of fundamentalists and have an orthodox version Islam. Wahabis in Saudi Arab do not allow their females to work side by side with their men and they also are not allowed to drive a car. The women are treated as third rate citizens and they are bound to wear a long abayaa or garment to cover them from head to toe. Sunni Muslims are moderate and believe in the equality of women as suggested by Islam.

There are many differences present in their rituals of praying, marriage ceremonies, dresses etc. Wahabi Muslims have separate mosques and schools. Wahabi Muslims are followers of Mohammed ibn Abdul Wahab in the 18th century in Arabia, and his movement came up against a lot of opposition from the Indians Sunni Muslims. Members of the Wahab movement in Saudi Arabia believe their role as a restorer or reformer to free Islam from negative deviances, heresies, innovations, superstitions and idolatries. Wahabis prefer to eliminate music and listening to songs. They are against watching television and drawings of living things which contain a soul.

Summary

1. Wahabi Muslims are followers of Muhammad ibne Abdul wahab present in the 18th century in Saudi Arabia whereas Sunni Muslims are followers of Prophet Muhammad and his companions.

2. Sunni Muslims believe in intercession and mysticism whereas Wahabis call them as deviants and wrongful innovations in Islam.

3. Sunni Muslims strictly follow one of the four schools of thoughts or madhabs of fiqah or Islamic jurisprudence whereas Wahabis follow their sheikh.

4. Wahabis do not observe annual Sufi festivals, events or the birthday of Prophet Muhammad.

5. Sunni Muslims wear charms and believe in healing powers unlike Wahabi beliefs like visiting tombs or shrines of saints.



Yusuf
January 22, 2018 • 6:40 am
The following 11 people are guilty of calling orthodox Muslims Wahhabis’. Their aim and objective is to use the term Wahhabi to insult real Muslims [people on pure tawheed] because they envy the real Muslims for their deen.

Shia
Sufi
Berailvis
Parvezi [Hadith rejector]
Mu’tazila [rationalist]
Asha’ira
Secularist
Modernist
Democrats
Hypocrites
Apostates

The people who use the word wahhabi, their intention is to practise smear, sneer and jeer. However, the people who practice the teachings of Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab are not Wahhabis. They are Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaa’ah and Salafi Jihadi. These words are not offensive. It is inappropriate to call a person a Wahhabi because it is used to insult and name calling is haraam.

The people who are Mushrikeen use the word Wahhab to insult orthodox Muslims. They want you to abandon your pure tawheed and follow them in their kufr, shirk and zandaqa. The Sufis, Shias and Bervailvis are the Mushrikeen of the Ummah.

Sufis are the Christian of the Ummah, the Berailvis are still Hindus and the Shias are still Zorastrians. These people have entered into the fold of Islam under false pretence. These people cannot survive in a genuine Islamic State because they are kuffar, outside the fold of Islam. They would be asked to convert to Islam or leave.

They are the worst of kuffar. They preach that Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab was a British agent. Why would the British sponsor a scholar like Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab to bring back authentic tawheed to the Ummah?!

These misguided Muslims use to be grave worshippers. The colonial masters promote evil practices like grave worshipping because grave worshippers have no taqwa to oppose them with jihad.

Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhab will be remembered as the man who removed shirk from the Ummah. The malicious slander of the mushrikeen doesn’t make sense because it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

Mirza Gulam Ahmed, the false Prophet of Qadian, was on the payroll of the British. He preached non-jihad against the colonialist and he even claimed to be a Prophet after Muhammad [saw].

Ahmed Raza, the founding father of the Berailvi movement, was also paid by the British, and he preached that Muslims should worship the graves besides Allah [shirk].

History has proven that the preachers who were sponsored by the British were all fake Muslims whose aim and objectives was to mislead unsuspecting Muslims. Today, millions of Muslims in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh have become infidels due to the work of Mirza Ghulam Ahmed and Ahmed Raza. Both of these heretics were sponsored by the British.

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Javed
February 16, 2018 • 12:13 pm
Whole bunch of buls***

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Zak dunloe
April 29, 2018 • 10:42 am
This whole article is a lie.
Sunnimuslims do not celebrate the Prophet mohammed birthday

Sunnies muslims can follow all of the schools of thought in any combination they wish as all the 4 schools of thought are correct.

Sunningdale Muslims are not supposed to believe in charms this is shirk, A sin, may even take a person out of islam

Most sunnie Muslims avoid intercession as there is a difference of opinion, best to avoid it.

ALL MUSLIMS ARE SUNNI MUSLIMS
A SUNNI Muslim is a Muslim whole follows the quran and the way(sunnah) of the prophet (pbu) this is what Allah has commanded Muslims to do. A Muslim is just a muslim you either follow the quran and sunnah or you don’t, if you don’t you may take yourself out of Islam.

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Adam khan
February 15, 2018 • 8:39 pm
90 percent of Muslims don’t celebrate mawlid or meelad or any Sufi celebrations its just something deviant people say to look like they are a part of the majority so lying is a sign a person is deviated as a true believer will not lie or deceive ever as he knows That Allah Sees and Hears this arguing isn’t even between the majority of the Muslims its between ignorant groups and the majority of muslims have no idea what’s going on but we do know that Muhammad peace be upon him told us to hold fast to the Quran and his sunnah and Allah has told us to hold fast to His rope and not become divided so majority of Muslims should follow what Allah has said and learn from Quran and follow the sunnah of Muhammad make life simple and let the egotistical groups waste their life arguing.. The messenger said “I guarantee a house in Paradise for the one who gives up arguing even if he is in the right.” So I say let’s try and do the best we can when worshipping Allah and follow the sunnah of Muhammad in the best manner and spread smiles amongst people and spread salaam amongst each other and leave judgement to Allah so Asalaamu alaikum brothers may Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.. Let’s not argue anymore let’s just spread salaam and joy and live smiling and be helpful to people and live the way Muhammad peace be upon him lived and his family and companions did that is the best way the simple way arguing just leads to bitterness and confusion and makes matters worse 🙂 Allah will tell us how well we did on earth 😀

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Zubair
February 23, 2018 • 2:08 am
Wahhabism is a tumour in this ummah, it must be uprooted. This Ummah has been living in peace for centuries but after the advent of Abdul Wahab najd, this ummah was split apart. The Prophet pbuh in a famous Hadith refused to pray for Najd, when enquired by companions, the Prophet pbuh said, the horn of Devil will come out of Najd. The famous Hadith Jurist of Syria Allama Shami ra commenting on this Hadith said that Prophet pbuh was referring to Abdul wahab Najdi. Wahabi have been shamelessly changing the islamic book to propogate their wahabi najdi beliefs for example they have doctored the books like Adab ul Mufrid by Imam Bukhari, because there are Hadith that support the beliefs of Alhe Sunna wal Jammah. The same way they have doctored the Medicine of Prophet by Ibn Jauzi ra, they have taken the Hadith supporting the use of Amulets.Be aware of Wahabi publications.
The creed of Alhe sunnah wal jammah is not to worship graves but to visit the pious people of Allah to gain barakah. The challenge to wahabis is, show us a single scholar from the family of Prophet pbuh till this date, who holds on to your beliefs, Shame! There is non. Alhamdulliah they are all from Alhe Sunnah wal Jammah.

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Zak dunloe
April 18, 2018 • 6:10 am
Lmao, Try learning your deen start from the beginning, before you make even more sins. May Allah guide.

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Abdullah
April 28, 2018 • 10:27 pm
Zubair
Al Wahab is Allah’s name, so to say “Wahabism” or “Wahabi” is to use Allah’s name wrongly, this shows you don’t know basic Islam from the first pillars of Iman and Arabic.

Ibn Abdul Wahab Rahimahullah brought peace and unity to Arabia and the Muslims, and liberated iraq from the judeo shia sect, what are you talking about.
shias didn’t get back into iraq until shia agents like the neo con chalabi lied on iraq wmds.

the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him in another hadith identified Najd as Iraq.

Again what is a “Wahabi” and why do you use Allah’s name as an attack, this shows Ibn Abdul Wahab Rahimahullah was right you guys don’t know basic Islam and the sufis and shias are the ignorant ppl who ignore learning about Allah and being extremists.

Shami doesn’t have proof of saying nonsense about Imam Ibn Abdul Wahab Rahimahullah, if what you are saying is true.

He exposed many evils like sufism or shiasm.

shiasm and violent rebellion itself was made by ibn saba who was a crypto jewish man and this is admitted in Sunni, shia and judaic sources.

sufi occultism made it easy for other shia and masonic cults to infiltrate the Uthmani/Ottomons which led to their downfalls.

re:have been shamelessly changing the islamic book – do you have any evidence…

Or do you not know the difference between a strong or weak hadith, either ways you have no evidence and in Islam we follow evidence not ignorance and prejudice which is the way of darkness and shaytan you seem to bring.

re:visit the pious people of Allah to gain barakah.

Do you have any evidence for this.
Because the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him even discouraged going to the graves at times.
In fact the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him in some ways said the opposite, He said the good deeds of the dead stop except for 3, knowledge that benefits, building a masjid or a righteous son who prays for you.

Abu Hurayrah, rahimahullah, reported that Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

“When a human being dies, all of his deeds are terminated except for three types: an ongoing sadaqah, a knowledge (of Islam) from which others benefit, and a righteous child who makes du’a for him.”
Muslim and others
Abu Qatadah, rahimahullah, reported that Allah’s Messenger, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said:

“The best that a man can leave behind after his death are three things: a righteous child who makes du’a for him, an ongoing sadaqah whose rewards continue to reach him, and a knowledge that continues to be implemented after him.”
Ibn Majah, and others. Verified to be sahih by Al-Mundhiri and Al-Albani

So you pray for those in the grave, they need you, not the other way around!

And exxagerating with the pious was the reasons for paganisms many sufis and shias fell into including mixing masjids and graves.

re:a single scholar from the family of Prophet pbuh till this date, who holds on to your beliefs, Shame! There is non. – ACTUALLY , Ibn Abdul Wahab Rahimahullah’s books are filled with Quran and Sunnah so you are wrong!

He follows the Sunnah and so far it seems you don’t know it.

Go to keanu212’s page and look up hadith of najd debunked, because the other hadiths said it was iraq where sufis and shias created problems and even Ahlul Bayt Radiyallahu anhum died because of their shia evil who many sufis imitate in their grave worship extremism.

Many sufis like i said earlier mix graves and masjids, like the tabligh jammat in india has their founder Muhammad ilyas’s grave in the masjids.

thats not Islam at all. this is sufis imitating shias which is a judeo christian mixed pagan religion or worshipping graves and saints.

There are shia imam’s named Abdul Hussein, so called “ayatuallahs” the shirk and paganism is in the name and this is who the sufis imitate alot. so the sufis and shias are more likely the najdis.

“O Allaah bestow your blessings on our Madeenah, O Allaah bestow your blessings in our measuring, O Allaah bestow your blessings in our Sham and our Yemen.” A person said, “And Iraaq o Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “From there arises the horn of satan and the trials and tribulations would come like mountain waves.”

Ibn Hajr al-Haythamee says in his Mujma Az Zawaa’id’ (3/305 – chapter ‘collection of du’aas made for (Madeenah)): ‘Its Narrators are trustworthy and precise.

Also Ibn Abdul Wahab Rahimahullah is from the tribe of tamimi which was stated in a hadith to be the hardest on dajjal.

The Hadeeth of Saheeh Bhukaaree reported by Abu Hurayra radiyallahu anhu: “I have loved the people of the tribe of Bani Tameem, Ever since I heard three things the Messeger of Allaah, Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam, said about them. I Heard him saying, ‘These people (of the tribe of Bani Tameem) would stand firm against the Dajjaal.’ When the Saddaqat from that tribe came, The Messenger of Allaah, Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam, said, “These are the sadaqat (charitable gifts) of our folk.” Aa’ishah had a slave girl from that tribe, and the Prophet, Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam said to Aa’ishah, manumit her as she is a decendant of Ismaa’eel, Alayhis Salaam.”

[Hadeeth no. 2543. 4366 of Al-Fath]

Reply
Abdullah
April 29, 2018 • 2:30 am
AS for wearing amulets theres this hadith

It was narrated from ‘Uqbah ibn ‘Aamir al-Juhani that a group came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [to swear their allegiance (bay’ah) to him]. He accepted the bay’ah of nine of them but not of one of them. They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, you accepted the bay’ah of nine but not of this one.” He said, “He is wearing an amulet.” The man put his hand (in his shirt) and took it off, then he (the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) accepted his bay’ah. He said, ‘Whoever wears an amulet has committed shirk.”

(Narrated by Ahmad, 16969)

This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 492.

Few ppl (from the salaf) difffered saying if there is Quran (and Sunnah Maybe?) writing on it it can lead to confusion, but there was a general prohibition on wearing amulets. that seems to be safer from whats been made apparent to me.

some say its makruh.

In Islam everything is based on Evidence.

Also Allah protected Islam from being corrupted.

See Quran 15:9 and 6:89, so if you do an act of worship bring evidence, thats all!

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

إِنَّ الرُّقَى وَالتَّمَائِمَ وَالتِّوَلَةَ شِرْكٌ

Verily, spells, amulets, and charms are acts of idolatry.

Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 3883, Grade: Sahih

Uqbah ibn Amir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

مَنْ تَعَلَّقَ تَمِيمَةً فَلَا أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ وَمَنْ تَعَلَّقَ وَدَعَةً فَلَا وَدَعَ اللَّهُ لَهُ

Whoever hangs an amulet around his neck, then Allah will not fulfill his wishes. Whoever hangs a seashell as a charm, then Allah will not leave him without penalty.

Source: Musnad Ahmad 16951, Grade: Sahih

abu amina elias website quotes the fiqh encyclopedia,

According to the Kuwaiti Encyclopedia of Fiqh:

أَمَّا إِذَا كَانَتِ التَّمِيمَةُ لَا تَشْتَمِلُ إِلَّا عَلَى شَيْءٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ وَأَسْمَاءِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى وَصِفَاتِهِ فَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَتِ الْآرَاءُ فِيهَا عَلَى النَّحْوِ التَّالِي ذَهَبَ الْحَنَفِيَّةُ وَالْمَالِكِيَّةُ وَالشَّافِعِيَّةُ وَأَحْمَدُ فِي رِوَايَةٍ إِلَى جَوَازِ ذَلِكَ وَهُوَ ظَاهِرُ مَا رُوِيَ عَنْ عَائِشَة وَهُوَ قَوْلُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ وَحَمَلُوا حَدِيثَ إنَّ الرُّقَى وَالتَّمَائِمَ وَالتُّوَلَةَ شِرْكٌ عَلَى التَّمَائِمِ الَّتِي فِيهَا شِرْكٌ وَالرِّوَايَةُ الْأُخْرَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ حُرْمَةُ التَّمِيمَةِ وَهُوَ ظَاهِرُ قَوْلِ حُذَيْفَةَ وَعُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ وَابْنِ حَكِيمٍ وَبِهِ قَالَ ابْنُ مَسْعُودٍ وَابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ وَجَمَاعَةٌ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ

As for amulets which do not contain anything but verses from the Quran or the names and attributes of Allah the Exalted, there are different opinions. The Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi’ee scholars as well as a narration from Ahmad incline towards the permissibility of that. It is the apparent meaning of what is narrated from Aisha and is likewise the opinion of Abdullah ibn Amr. They interpreted the narration that spells, amulets, and charms are idolatry to mean only amulets within which is idolatry. Another narration from Ahmad forbids amulets in general and it is the apparent meaning of the statement of Hudhaifa, Uqbah ibn Amir, and Ibn Hakeem as well as Ibn Mas’ud, Ibn Abbas, and a group of the companion’s students.

Source: Mawsu’at Al-Fiqhiyyah 15/23

For those who wear Quranic amulets, it should be understood that the blessings in them do not come from the object itself. Rather, the blessings are in remembering and reciting the words of Allah. There is no harm if the verses of the Quran are displayed in order to remember and recite them often, but they should not be misunderstood as being blessed simply by their presence.

Nevertheless, many Muslims in our time do not appreciate this importance nuance and they have used Quranic amulets in the wrong manner. It should be noted that the use of Quranic amulets is not a confirmed prophetic tradition nor is it recommended, rather it is only permissible according to some scholars, and the prophetic narrations which prohibit amulets make no clear distinction in this regard. For this reason, it may be better and safer to avoid the use of Quranic amulets altogether.

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

Reply
Abdullah
April 29, 2018 • 2:32 am
in the above comment i think the site translated ruqya as spell and Allahu Alim.

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Adil Yasin
February 25, 2018 • 4:56 am
Whabis are cheaters.No whabi exist during the time of Our PROPHET peace be upon him.
Whabis are evils.
They insult our prophet.
This is a new fitna

Reply
Abdullah
April 28, 2018 • 10:32 pm
adil – Ibn Abdul Wahab RAhimahullah followed Quran and Sunnah in his books, they are public, so in that sense those ideas were around during the time of the Prophet peace and blessings be upon him.

So thats not evil but good, whats evil is your ignorance to say “Wahabi” – Al Wahab is Allah’s name so to use it as an attack shows you don’t know Islam or Arabic.

Reviving the Sunnah is not an insult but doing good, its only seems like a fitnah for the misguided.

seems like you only cheat yourself of True Islamic knowledge based on Quran and Sunnah!



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Was Prophet a Sunni, Shia, or Wahabi? What was his line and belief about Islam?
14 Answers
Kawthar Abdullah
Kawthar Abdullah, "Always be on the side of the oppressed" Ali Ibn Abu Talib
Answered Feb 12 2014 · Author has 789 answers and 1m answer views
Please read carefully all of the quotation, it is most enlightening :



"The word "Shi’a”means "followers; members of party". As such, the  term "Shi’a”alone has no negative or positive meaning unless we specify  the leader of the party. If one is a Shi’a (follower) of the most  righteous servants, then there is nothing wrong with being Shi’a,  specially if the leader of such party has been assigned by Allah. 
On the other hand, if one becomes the Shi’a a tyrant or a wrong-doer,  he shall meet with the fate of his leader. In fact, Qur’an indicates  that on the day of Judgment people will come in groups, and each group  has its leader in front of it. Allah, to whom belong Might and Majesty,  said:
One day We shall call every group of people by their respective Imams. (Qur’an 17:71)
In the day of judgment, the destiny of the "followers”of each group  highly depends on the destiny of his Imam (provided that they really  followed that Imam). Allah mentioned in Qur’an that there are two types  of Imams. Some Imams are those who invite people to Hell fire. They are  tyrannical leaders of each era (like Pharaoh, etc.):
And We made them (but) Imams inviting to the Fire; and on  the Day of Judgment no help shall they find. In this world We continued  to curse them; and on the Day of Judgment they will be among the  hateful. (Qur’an 28:41-42).
Certainly, being the members of the parties of such Satanic Imams has  been severely denounced in Qur’an, and the followers of such parties  will meet the fate of their leaders. However, Qur’an also reminds that  there are Imams who are appointed by Allah as Guides for the mankind:
"And We assigned from among them some Imams who GUIDE by Our authority since they were patient and believed firmly in Our Signs.”(Qur’an 32:24)
Certainly, the true followers (Shi’a) of these Imams will be the real  prosperous on the day of resurrection. Thus being a Shi’a does not mean  anything, unless we know the Shi’a of whom. Allah mentioned in Qur’an  that Some of His righteous servants were Shi’a of His other righteous  servants. An example was Prophet Abraham who was mentioned in Qur’an  specifically as the Shi’a of Noah:
"And most surely Abraham was among the Shi’a of him (i.e., Noah)”(Qur’an 37:83)
وَإِنَّ مِن شِيعَتِهِ لَإِبْرَاهِيمَ ﴿الصافات: ٨٣﴾
(Notice that the word "Shi’a”is explicitly used, letter by letter, in  the above verse as well as the following verse.) In another verse,  Qur’an talks about the Shi’a of Moses versus the enemies of Moses:
"And he (Moses) went into the city at a time when people  (of the city) were not watching, so he found therein two men fighting,  one being of his Shi’a and the other beinghis enemy, and the one who was of his Shi’a cried out to him for help against the one who was of his enemy”(Qur’an 28:15)
فَوَجَدَ فِيهَا رَجُلَيْنِ يَقْتَتِلَانِ  هَـٰذَا مِن شِيعَتِهِ وَهَـٰذَا مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ ۖفَاسْتَغَاثَهُ الَّذِي  مِن شِيعَتِهِ عَلَى الَّذِي مِنْ عَدُوِّهِ...
In the above verse of Qur’an, one is named the Shi’a of Moses (as)  and the other one is named the enemy of Moses, and the people at that  time were either the Shi’a or the enemy of Moses (as). Thus Shi’a is an  official word used by Allah in His Qur’an for His high rank prophets as  well as their followers. Do you want to say Prophet Abraham was  sectarian? How about Prophet Noah and Prophet Moses?
If somebody calls himself a Shi’a, it is not due to any sectarianism,  nor any innovation. It is because Qur’an has used the phrase for some  of His best servants. The above verses that I mentioned in support of  Shi’a, has used this term singular form (i.e., one group of followers). 
This means that it has special meaning, such as: The Shi’a of Noah  (as), The Shi’a of Moses (as). Also in the History of Islam, Shi’a has  been specially used for the "followers of ‘Ali". The first individual  who used this term was the Messenger of Allah himself:
The Messenger of Allah said to ‘Ali: "Glad tiding O ‘Ali! Verily you  and your companions and your Shi’a (followers) will be in Paradise."
يا علي أبشر فإنك و أصحابك و شيعتك في الجنَّة
Sunni references:
1. Fadha’il al-Sahaba, by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal, v2, p655
2. Hilyatul Awliyaa, by Abu Nu’aym, v4, p329
3. Tarikh, by al-Khateeb al-Baghdadi, v12, p289
4. al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani
5. Majma’ al-Zawa’id, by al-Haythami, v10, pp 21-22
6. al-Darqunti, who said this tradition has been transmitted via numerous authorities.
7. al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p247
Thus the Messenger of Allah (S) used to say the phrase of "Shi’a of  ‘Ali". This phrase is not something invented later! Prophet Muhammad (S)  said that the TRUE followers of imam ‘Ali will go to Paradise, and this  is a great felicity. Also Jabir Ibn Abdillah al-Ansari narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah (S) said: "The Shi’a of ‘Ali are the real victorious in the day of resurrection/rising"
شيعة علي هم الفائزون يوم القيامة
Sunni references:
• al-Manaqib Ahmad, as mentioned in:
• Yanabi al-Mawaddah, by al-Qundoozi al-Hanafi, p62
• Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Hafidh Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, who  quotes the tradition as follows: "We were with the Holy Prophet when  ‘Ali came towards us. The Holy Prophet said: He and his Shi’a will  aquire salvation on the day of judgment."
The "day of rising”may also refer to the day of rising of al-Mahdi  (as). But in more general term, it means the day of judgment. Also it is  narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah said: "O ‘Ali! On the Day of Judgment I shall  resort to Allah and you will resort to me and your children will resort  to you and the Shi’a will resort to them. Then you will see where they  carry us. (i.e. to Paradise)"
Sunni reference: Rabi al-Abrar, by al-Zamakhshari
Furthermore, it is narrated that:
The Messenger of Allah said: "O ‘Ali! (On the day of Judgment) you  and your Shi’a will come toward Allah well-pleased and well-pleasing,  and there will come to Him your enemies angry and stiff-necked (i.e.,  their head forced up).
Sunni references:
• al-Tabarani, on the authority of Imam ‘Ali
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Ch. 11, section 1, p236
A more complete version of the tradition which has also been reported by the Sunnis, is as follows:
Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated: 
When the verse "Those who believe and do righteous deeds are the best of the creation (Qur’an 98:7)”
was revealed, the Messenger of Allah (S) said to ‘Ali: "They are you  and your Shi’a.”He continued: "O ‘Ali! (On the day of Judgment) you and  your Shi’a will come toward Allah well-pleased and well-pleasing, and  your enemies will come angry with their head forced up. ‘Ali said: "Who  are my enemies?”The Prophet (S) replied: "He who disassociates himself  from you and curses you. And glad tiding to those who reach first under  the shadow of al-’Arsh on the day of resurrection.”‘Ali asked: "Who are  they, O the Messenger of Allah?”He replied: "Your Shi’a, O ‘Ali, and  those who love you."
Sunni references:
• al-Hafidh Jamaluddin al-Dharandi, on the authority of Ibn Abbas
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, pp 246-247
Then Ibn Hajar provides a bizarre commentary for the first tradition, saying:
The Shi’a of ‘Ali are the Ahlussunnah since they are those who love  Ahlul-Bayt as Allah and His Prophet ordered. But others (i.e., other  than Sunnis) are the enemies of Ahlul-Bayt in reality for the love  outside the boundary of law is the great enmity, and that was the reason  for their fate. Also, the enemies of Ahlul-Bayt were al-Khawarij and  their alike from Syria, not Muawiyah and other companions because they  were Muteawweloon, and for them is a good reward, and for ‘Ali and his  Shi’a is a good reward!
Sunni reference:
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 11, section 1, p236
And this is how Sunni scholars cope with the prophetic traditions in  favor of "Shi’a of ‘Ali"! They say that they are the real Shi’a!
Let us look at one more tradition in this regard:
The Messenger of Allah said to ‘Ali: "The first four individuals who  will enter the Paradise are me, you, al-Hasan, and al-Husayn, and our  progeny will be behind us, and our wives will be behind our progeny, and  our Shi’a will be on our right side and in our company."
Sunni references:
• al-Manaqib, by Ahmad
• al-Tabarani, as quoted in:
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p246
From the above pieces of evidence, the word "Shi’a”is used by Allah  in Qur’an for His prophets as well as their followers. Further, His  blessed Prophet, Muhammad (S) has repeatedly used this word for the  followers of Imam ‘Ali (as). The word Shi’a is used here in its special  meaning, and moreover, it is not in plural form (Parties), rather the  above verses and traditions are referring to a special party, i.e., one  single party. If Shi’a meant sectarian, neither Allah would use it for  His high rank prophets nor Prophet Muhammad (S) would have praised them.
However there are some verses in Qur’an which uses the plural form of  Shi’a that is "Shi-ya’a”which means "Parties/groups". This is a general  meaning of this term, and not the special meaning in singular form  which has been given in previous examples. Of course, only one single  party is accepted by Allah and the rest are severely denounced because  they have separated from that unique party. So it is clear why Allah  denounced "Groups/Parties/sects”(plural form) who separated from that  unique group in some verses of Qur’an. There can’t be two righteous  groups (with conflicting ideas) at the same time, because between the  two leaders one is surely better and more qualified, and thus the claims  and the motives of the other leader goes under question.

However I did not locate the exact term of "Ahlussunnah wal-Jama’ah",  nor did I find "al-Wahhabiyyah", "al-Salafiyyah”anywhere in the Holy  Qur’an or the traditions of the Prophet. I agree that we should follow  the Sunnah of Prophet, but I would like to discover the origin of the  exact term here. We Shi’a are proud to follow the Sunnah of Prophet. 
However, the question is that which Sunnah is genuine and which one  is not. The word "Sunnah”by itself does not serve the purpose of  knowledge. All Muslims irrespective to their persuasions claim that they  follow the Sunnah of Prophet (S). Please refer to the article titled  "Qur’an and Ahlul-Bayt”for a detailed discussion in this regard.
It should be emphasized that the Messenger of Allah never wished to  divide Muslims into groups. Prophet ordered all people to follow Imam  ‘Ali (as) as his agent during his life time, and as his Caliph after  him. Prophet wished everybody does that. 
But unfortunately those who heeded him were few and were known as  "Shi’a of ‘Ali”who were subject to all sort of discrimination and  prosecution, and suffered from day one of the demise of the Mercy to  Mankind, Muhammad (S). If every one (or say the majority Muslims) had  obeyed what prophet wished, then there wouldn’t exist any group or  school within Islam. Allah said in Qur’an:
"Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all of you together and do not separate”(Qur’an 3:103)"
The Rope of Allah which we should not separate from, are the  Ahlul-Bayt. In fact, some Sunni scholars narrated from Imam Ja’far  al-Sadiq (as) saying:
"We are the Rope of Allah about whom Allah has said: ‘Hold fast to the Rope of Allah, all of you together and do not diverge (3:103)’"
Sunni references:
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar Haythami , Ch. 11, section 1, p233
• Tafsir al-Kabir, by al-Tha’labi, under commentary of verse 3:103
Thus, if Allah denounces the sectarianism, He denounces those who  separated from His Rope, and not those who hold fast to it! Also some  said the Rope of Allah is Qur’an. This is also true. But by looking at  the following tradition narrated by Umm Salama who said:
The Messenger of Allah said: "‘Ali is with Qur’an, and Qur’an is with  ‘Ali. They shall not separate from each other till they both return to  me by the Pool (of Paradise)."
Sunni references:
• al-Mustadrak, by al-Hakim, v3, p124 on the authority of Umm Salama
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 9, section 2, pp 191,194
• al-Awsat, by al-Tabarani; also in al-Saghir
• Tarikh al-Khulafa, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, p173
Then we can conclude that Imam ‘Ali is “the Qur’an verbatim “. That  is, Imam ‘Ali is the Strong Rope of Allah also, because they (Qur’an and  ‘Ali) are non-separable. In fact, there are a huge number of traditions  in authentic Sunni sources where Prophet said Qur’an and Ahlul-Bayt are  inseparable and if Muslims want to remain in the right path, they  should stick to both of them. (Please refer to the article titled:  Qur’an and Ahlul-Bayt). Therefore, one can conclude that those who  separated from Ahlul-Bayt are the sectarian who divided into sects and  were denounced by Allah and His prophet due to their divergence.
In fact, the opinion of majority is not a good criteria to  distinguish the false from the truth. If you look at the Qur’an, you  will see that Qur’an severely denounces the majority of by frequently  saying that "the majority do not understand", "the majority do not use  their logic", "the majority follow their whims"...
In another verse, Allah said:
"You are the best nation (Ummah) that has been raised up  for the (benefit of) people. You enjoin the good and forbid the  evil...”(Qur’an 3:110).
The best nation is also the Ahlul-Bayt. Let us remember that  according to Qur’an, "nation”does not mean the whole people. This is  even clear from the above verse that such Ummah (nation) are raised FOR  benefiting the people. Thus Ummah can be only a subset of people and not  the whole people. In fact one person can be a nation. Sometimes the act  of a single person is worthier than the deeds of the whole nation. This  was the case for Prophet Muhammad, Imam ‘Ali, as well as the case for  Prophet Abraham, peace be upon them all. Qur’an states that Abraham (as)  was a nation (Ummah), meaning that his deeds was more valuable than all  other people. Allah stated:
"Lo! Abraham was a nation (Ummah) who was obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the idolaters”(Qur’an 16:120)
Thus, one single individual can be a nation in the language of  Qur’an. As for the Verse 3:100, it is interesting to note that some  Sunni scholars have narrated from Abu Ja’far (Imam Baqir (as)) that:
Abu Ja’far (as) said about the verse ‘You are the best nation raised up for the (benefit of) people...(3:110)’: "The Members of the House of the Prophet."
Sunni references:
• Ibn Abi Hatam, as mentioned in:
• al-Durr al-Manthoor, by Jalaluddin al-Suyuti under commentary of verse 3:110 of holy Qur’an.
Also Allah mentioned in Qur’an:
"O’ you who believe! Fear Allah and be with the truthful”(Qur’an 9:119)
According to some Sunni Commentaries, "the truthful”means Imam ‘Ali (as):
Sunni reference:
• Tafsir al-Durr al-Manthoor, by al-Hafidh Jalaluddin al-Suyuti, two  reports: one from Ibn Mardawayh by Ibn Abbas and the second from Ibn  Asakir by Abi Ja’far (as).
This means that people should have feared Allah and should not have  separated from Imam ‘Ali (as) after the demise of Prophet (S). This  unfortunately did not happen at large, and therefore, unfortunate  divisions followed it.
With respect to the world al-Siddeeq -- "The Truthful", there are many Sunni narrations in which the Messenger of Allah said:
The Truthful are three: Hazqeel (who was) the believer of the family  of Pharaoh (see Qur’an 40:28), and Habeeb al-Najjar (who was) the  believer of the family of Yaasin (see Qur’an 36:20), and ‘Ali Ibn Abi  Talib who is the most virtuous one among them (see Qur’an 9:119)."
Sunni references:
• Abu Nu’aym and Ibn Asakir, on the authority of Abu Layla
• Ibn al-Najjar, on the authority of Ibn Abbas
• al-Sawa’iq al-Muhriqah, by Ibn Hajar, Ch. 9, section 2, pp 192-193
In conclusion, we have shown in this article that the term Shi’a has  been used in Qur’an for the followers of the great servants of Allah,  and in the traditions of the Prophet for the followers of Imam ‘Ali  (as). One who follows such divinely appointed Guide is safe from the  disputes in the religion and has grasped the Strong Rope of Allah, and  has been given the glad tiding of Paradise.
Side Comments
A Sunni brother wrote: Sunni means the one who follows the traditions  (Sunnah) of the Prophet, and this is supported by the following verse  of Qur’an:
Certainly you have in the Apostle of Allah an excellent exemplar  (beautiful pattern of conduct) for him who hopes in Allah and the latter  day and remembers Allah much. (Qur’an 33:21)
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ  فِي رَسُولِ اللَّـهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن  كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّـهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَاللَّـهَ  كَثِيرًا ﴿الأحزاب: ٢١﴾
My comment was as follows:
1)In the above verse neither the word "Sunnah”nor any of its  derivative has been used. As I mentioned earlier, Allah has used the  terminology of "Muslim”in its exact form, letter by letter, in the verse  22:78. Also Allah used the word "Shi’a”again in exact form in verse  37:83 for the Prophet Abraham. However, Allah never used the words such  as "Sunni”or as "Ahlussunnah”for the followers of the Prophet (S).
2)If you say we do not find such exact terminology, but we understand  that the Prophet is our pattern, then one may say that Qur’an testifies  that Prophet Abraham (as) was a pattern for us as well:
"Indeed, there is for you an excellent exemplar (beautiful pattern of conduct) in Abraham...”(Qur’an 60:4)
قَدْ كَانَتْ لَكُمْ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ فِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ 
Notice that in the above verse, the phrase which has been used for  Prophet Abraham (as) is exactly the same as that of the previous quoted  verse used for Prophet Muhammad (S). That is true for the following  verse as well:
Certainly there is for you in them (Abraham and his  followers) an excellent exemplar (beautiful pattern of conduct) for him  who fears Allah and the last day; and whoever turns back, then surely  Allah is the Self-sufficient, the Praised. (Qur’an 60:6)
لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِيهِمْ  أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّـهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ  وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ ﴿الممتحنة:  ٦﴾
Now please tell us if we can be called a Sunni because we follow  Abraham’s traditions? Certainly Prophet Muhammad followed the tradition  of Prophet Abraham, yet Muhammad (S) was never called Sunni, as that  result. Similarly, Prophet Abraham followed the traditions of Prophet  Noah, but he was never called a Sunni. Qur’an mentioned that he was a  Shi’a of Noah.
3) The word "Sunnah”has used in Qur’an to refer to the custom of God  and the way Allah conducts the affairs and the rules governing the  universe (Sunnatullah). But here we are discussing the word Sunnah  referred to the Prophet (S), and not the rules governing the universe.  As such we are looking for the term such as "Sunnatu Rasoolillah".
4) A word XXXX can be used in two ways:
XXXXX by definition
or
XXXXX by label
All Muslims are Sunni by definition, but only a group of people,  which are famous to this name, are Sunni by label. How they got such  label needs to be investigated though.
Also, all Muslims are "obedient”by definition, but there is no  special group among Muslims who are called "obedient". This shows that  having a certain characteristic by definition does not force us to  specify such characteristic in our label. In fact, in most cases (not  all cases) the label is just a stereotype and does not reflect the real  attributes of the holder of such label. 
Sometime the label is used to allure people to specific version of  something which is found in various versions, each of which is claimed  to be genuine one, by different groups. As such, it wouldn’t be an  intelligent practice, in general, to identify the genuineness of  something with its label.
Surely, the followers of the Prophet are supposed to follow his  Sunnah by definition. But were they called Sunni when Prophet Muhammad  was alive? or even few years after his demise? In other words, the  question to be answered is: When did the title "Ahlussunnah wal  Jama’ah”come into existence in the history of Islam for a specific group  of Muslims?"

source: A Shiite Encyclopedia.
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Sayed Mahdi Yarahmadian
Sayed Mahdi Yarahmadian, Reasonable Muslim Expert
Answered Oct 15 2016 · Author has 381 answers and 274k answer views
Hello dear friend. I would like to clear up the mystery.

This is a very nice question and its answer could clarify a lot of ambiguous issues regarding Shia and Sunnis’ dialogues.

To be honest, Shia religion is not a different sect from Islam as most orientalists believe so. Shia is only a term attributed to those who consider Imam Ali as the first caliph after Prophet Mohammad but in fact Shia is the real Islam as Prophet Mohammad himself chose Ali to be his first caliph. Therefore,since Prophet himself founded this belief, he must me considered the Shia and the founder of Shia

It is believed that Shia is the genuine Islam and has superiority over other religions.

The superiority of the Shia religion over other religions is because of its being the "true" religion. There is only one true religion in all epochs. The true religion of God, the Exalted, is one in all times and eras; any religion other than the One True Religion is either false or abrogated or defunct.

The multiplicity of divine religions that have so far been revealed upon the humanity is longitudinal not latitudinal which means that the new religion is abrogative of and supplementary to the former one. Thus, with the coming of the new religion, the previous religion becomes defunct and is no longer considered valid. It would be necessary on all people to follow and have faith in the new religion as it replaces the old one. That is why, the holy scripts and religious texts use the term "Kafir" (infidel) to describe those who do not have faith in the new religion.

Islam is the last and the most complete of the revealed religions. God shall not accept any religion other than Islam. "ان الدین عندالله الاسلام

" (Verily, the only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam.[1]) "و من یبتغ غیر الاسلام دینا فلن یقبل منه

" (And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him.[2]).

Unfortunately, Muslims like the people and adherents of the previous religions are divided into different religions. Surely, all of them cannot be true at the same time. The holy Prophet of Islam said:

"ان امّتی ستفرق بعدی علی ثلاث و سبعین فرقة، فرقة منها ناجیة، و اثنتان و سبعون فی النار

"

My Ummah will be divided into seventy-three sects, one of which will be in Paradise and seventy-two will be in the Fire.[3]”

The holy Prophet of Islam (pbuh) also said:

"ایها الناس انی ترکت فیکم ما ان اخذتم به لن تضلوا، کتاب الله و عترتی اهل بیتی

"

"O People, I leave you two weighty things, if you stick to both you will never go astray after me: the Book of Allah and my progeny – the Ahlalbayt.[4]"

Abuzar Ghaffari, one of the trusted and honorable companions of the holy Prophet (pbuh) narrates:

"سمعت النبی (ص) انه قال: الا ان مثل اهل بیتی فیکم مثل سفینة نوح فی قومه، من رکبها نجی و من تخلف عنها غرق

"

"The similitude of my Ahlalbayt amongst you is the same as that of Noah's Ark amongst his tribe. Whoever boards it will be saved and he who avoided it will drown.[5]"

The pillars and principles of the Shia religion are belief in divine unity (tawhid), divine justice (adl), prophecy (nubuwwah), Imamat and resurrection (ma'ad). Shia believes in the leadership of the twelve infallible Imams (a.s.) as the successors of the Prophet of Islam (pbuh) the first of them being Ali (a.s.) and the last one Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance).

In the traditions narrated from the Holy Prophet of Islam the number and names of the twelve Infallible Imams (a.s.) have been mentioned.

One day Abdullah bin Mas’ud was sitting in a gathering of people when a nomad Arab came over and asked: “Which one of you is Abdullah bin Mas’ud?”

Abdullah answered: “I am.”

Arab nomad: “Did your Prophet inform you about the number of his successor?”

Abdullah bin Mas’ud: “Yes, he did, they are twelve caliphs, (like) the number of the Chiefs of Bani Israel.”[6]

Our arguments for the righteousness of the Shia religion are the Quran and Sunnah. Almighty Allah commanded us to obey God, the Messenger and Ulul Amr (those vested with authority) who, according to the Holy Prophet’s saying, are the Shia Imams. There are many a number of Quranic verses referring to leadership and wilayat (successorship) of our Imams. Some of them are the following:

"وانذر عشیرتک الاقربین" — " یَاأَیُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَیْکَ مِنْ رَبِّکَ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ "— " الیوم اکملت لکم دینکم و اتممت علیکم نعمتی و رضیت لکم الاسلام دینا" —" انما یرید الله لیذهب عنکم الرجس اهل البیت و یطهرکم تطهیرا

"

It has been mentioned in history books and in the narrations that the Prophet (pbuh) always called the Commander of the Faithful, Ali (a.s.), his trustee and successor. Tabrasi narrates in his history book that when the verse "وانذر عشیرتک الاقربین

" (and warn your closer relatives) was revealed, the Prophet (pbuh) addressed his relatives as such: Almighty God has commanded me to invite you to Him.Whoever helps me in this matter will be my brother, my trustee (wasi) and my successor after me.

Then the Commander of the faithful, Ali (a.s.) stood up before him and said:

“O Apostle of God, I will help you.”

There and then the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Verily, this (Ali) is my brother, my trustee, my helper, my successor after me among you. Follow him and be obedient to him. Some of the Prophet’s relatives laughed at this and declared to Abu Talib mockingly that he must bow down to his own son, as Ali was now his Emir.[7]

In the last year of his life and as he was returning from his last pilgrimage, the Holy Prophet (pbuh) formally nominated Ali bin Abi Talib (a.s.) as the Muslims’ leader and ruler. He ordered all the pilgrims in a gathering at Ghadir Khum to vow allegiance to Ali as the Commander of the Faithful. This famous saying “of whomsoever I am a mawla (master and ruler), this Ali would be his master” is the Holy Prophet (pbuh)’s saying on this day. This is a well-known and mutawatir (mass-transmitted) tradition.

This is a brief explanation of the evidences of the superiority and righteousness of Shi’ism over other religions on the basis of Quranic verses and narrations. Definitely, we can also deal with this issue by drawing a comparison between the teachings of the Shia religion and those of non-Shia religions through which we could prove Shia’s superiority over other religions but we would rather leave this discussion for some other time.

When it comes to Wahabism, it would be enough to suffice with Sayed Mustafa Razvi’s writing in the book titled “Pakistan: Political and Religious Information” in which the writer says that Wahabism considers the followers of all other Muslim sects, Shia and Sunni, as pagans, infidels and idolaters. They declare seeking the intercession of the Prophet and Infallible Imams, visiting their graves, respecting and revering them as a form of innovation and idolatry. Thus, they forbid such acts on the ground that they are polytheistic acts. They do not permit greeting, respecting and revering the Prophet (pbuh) anywhere other than in the prayer and they believe that commemoration and reverence of the Prophet (pbuh) ended on the day he passed away from this world. They consider any kind of structures, monuments and tombs on the graves of the Imams and religious saints as bid’ah (innovation) and they believe that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was a human being who died and who no longer has the power to do anything because he has no information about us nor does he know anything about what is going on in this world. Therefore, it is forbidden to visit his grave. [8]

We let your common sense to judge as to whether these doctrines can be consistent with the Quran or human nature. Is this the love of the Ahlul Bayt which has been regarded as the wage of prophethood[9]? Did the Quran not tell that the martyrs are alive and sustained by their Lord?[10] And is the Prophet’s rank lower than that of the martyrs?!

Should you want to discuss the subject further, do not hesitate to email us. May Allah grant you success.

[1] - Aal-e Imran: 19

[2] - Aal-e Imran:85

[3] - Al-Ebanah al-Kubra, Ibn-e Vol. 1, p.3; Khesal, p.585

[4] - Kanzul Ummal, Vol.1, p.44, Babul E'tesam bil-Kitab Wassunnah.

[5] - Al-Mustadrak 'Ala al-Sahehain, Vol.3, p.151

[6] - Khesal, p.467

[7] - Tarikh Tabari, vol.2, p. 320, Egypt Publication: Kamil Ibn-e Athir, Vol.2, P.41, Beirut Publication

[8] - Sayed Mustafa Razavi, Political and Religious on Pakistan, p.63-64

[9] - قُلْ لا أَسْئَلُکُمْ عَلَیْهِ أَجْراً إِلاَّ الْمَوَدَّةَ فِی الْقُرْبى

(I do not ask you any wage (in return for myprophethood) except to lovemy near kin.

[10] - Aal-e Imran: 169

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Ali Saleh
Ali Saleh, have been muslim for 26 years
Answered Feb 13 2014 · Author has 69 answers and 153.4k answer views
I don't know if this a real question or a troll , but I will answer any way.

Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) was the messenger to bring people to Islam  and teach them it's message. 

You can think of this era when he was alive as a teacher with new students he teach them all what he know and they don't know any thing but what he teach them. If they have a question they ask him and he answers. He  was establishing the major building blocks in the belief and was also answering question about the every day issues and if they are Hallal or Haram or the third type which is things that are not Hallal nor Haram and every one is free to do what s\he like in those issue. 

After the death of Mohammed (PBUH) people who were very close to him and who have learnt from him the best and in the same time who had the needed skills to be a scholar ( like any other knowledge field History, math, physics, or medicine) those people became the first scholars generations whose Mohammed (PBUH)  was their first teacher and they become the new teacher they were establishing the major belief blocks based on what they learnt not changing any major thing some time they re-phrase it to be easier to reach other people who had little knowledge or only interested in knowing the minimum knowledge that make them Muslims but not scholars (like when you learn about mathematics the basic operations that makes you able to use math without getting PhD in a specific field). 

When Mohammed (PBUH) died the Muslim countries were only what is today the Arabian Gulf countries and 100 years after that the Muslim countries were the gulf , north Africa , some of middle Africa countries , some countries in Asia, some countries in Europe. and as those countries  have different cultures and live differently they had different issues that they wanted to know what is the Doctrine says about it. So the new generations of the scholars begun searching in those issues based on the Quraan and the sun-nah ( which is what Mohammed (PBUH) did or said regarding Islamic issues) and they begun developing new detailed opinion regarding specific issues in specific countries. and this is how the 4 major Islamic Doctrines (Abu Hanifa, Abu Hanbel , Shafai, Malek) .

Those Doctrines are not new religions they are detailed opinions in specific ideas and methods for searching in new issues when they appear , and one of the most common misconceptions is that only those four are existing.  They are just the major 4 and they are named according to the first scholar who was developing those opinions and methods and several other scholars continued those 4 work. Also those four because they lived in different places in different times had different points of view for some non-major issues from Islamic point of view, like for example how to decide the exact timing for each prayer the beginning and the end date every one of them made a set of rules based on his own research regarding the place he lived in , and since non of them lived in Europe, The Americas , nor Australia their rules are not used in those places and new rules were developed for them and now days there are new rules that make use of the scientific advances in GPS and astronomy.

 So the major four are Islamic scholars who were following Mohammed (PBUH) answering question that didn't arise while he was alive based on what they have learned from Quraan and from Mohammed's (PBUH) students along time. The same can be applied to imam Mohammed Abd el Wahhab (Wahhabi ) who were a scholar that was trying to stand for the changes that people were trying to do to major/minor Islamic issues ,and he is not responsible for what his followers did after he died the same way that Vladimir Lenin\Karl Marx are not responsible for the Chinese communism.

Shiaa \ Sunnah Conflict 

The other thing you are asking for is whether Mohammed (PBUH) is Shiaa or Shnni , and the answer is also neither. but the difference here is that Shiaa and Sunnah are Islamic parties not a collection of scholars like the Major 4.
The Shnnah Shifaa conflict begun as a normal political conflict between Muslims Leaders Ali and Muawiyah then after the assassination of Ali the followers of the two begun a 1400 years old conflict where each party is claiming to be the right and the true Muslims and the others are ranging from sinners to disbelievers based on individual points of views, sometimes they differ in major points in the Islamic belief and again each party claiming to be the righteous one . 

This conflict begun 30 years after the death of Mohammed (PBUH) and those two parties are claiming to be following Mohammed. 

The baseline is that Mohammed is the prophet every Muslim believe this and every Muslim aims to follow Mohammed as much as s/he can. Mohammed didn't follow anyone he is the pioneer leader and he only followed what Allah told him.
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Ali Al-Hammoud
Ali Al-Hammoud, Lead structural design engineer. CAD/BIM Specialist.
Answered Jul 20 2016 · Author has 448 answers and 662.1k answer views
Anyone who dares to give you an answer by saying that the prophet belonged to any of the sects is simply speaking rubbish. Islam is one religion. The prophet said that Muslims will be divided into 73 sects and only one will follow the righteous path. Therefore, anyone who tells you that there were sunnis, shiites, salafi, or any other term have peanuts in their heads. These terms where used during the Prophets speeches and were later used to term the different groups. After the Prophet’s death or martyrdom (as per the Quran), people who came to power termed themselves and others whatever they pleased. That’s the first lesson you learn in history my friend. The prophet used to call Ali’s followers as his Shiites. But that does not mean that the prophet created the sect or it even existed. The same way he used to say the terms Shiite Abi Sufyan and what have you. Now, The Ummayyads who came in power didn’t starting calling Ali’s followers as his shiites and there were various reasons behind that but I don’t want to get into it. The Sunnis follow the 4 Mazaheb whose Imams studied under Imam Jaafar Al Sadeq (6th Imam of the Shiites). Not one of them ever met the Prophet. The term Ahel Al Sunnat wal Jamaa’aa is a term that was used by them to indicate they followed authentic Islam. It was a term created by people in power and that’s it. Anyone who will argue that Sunnis are right because the word Sunnat is following the Prophets Sunnat and the word Shiite means sect has void in his head (Not even peanuts). I am not claiming here that shiites are right. I am simply stating that I cannot simply argue that those were right because of what they are called. That does not mean again that Sunnis are wrong either. Wahabis: I don’t think one should even try to argue here. Read their history and that should be enough.

The prophet was the prophet of Islam. Plain and simple. And Islam is one religion.

The prophet gave guidelines and the Quran gave guidelines. It is our interpretation of these guidelines that is different.

Now if I go back to the beginning, I stated that only one is following the righteous path. This my friend, is for you to find out. Because on Judgement day, you cannot expect to go to heaven because you follow a certain sect. (Even if it was the right one). You have to be a follower of Mohammad and the Quran.

I hope I haven’t caused confusion but what I was trying to say is that it is not enough to follow a sect. God will want to know why you followed a sect. And your answer cannot be: Because I was told they were right. And let’s say you studied and was convinced with one sect, ask yourself this: What are other sects arguing against mine. Because what if they are right and I am asked this question on judgement day. How will I answer.

That is why, as a muslim, it is your duty to understand all different sects with a clear and unprejudiced mind and try to have answers that convince you even if they are not in line with anyone else. If you come to a conclusion that non of them are right, then don’t follow any of them. Only you will answer to yourself.

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Alaa Yusef
Alaa Yusef
Answered Apr 6 2017 · Author has 227 answers and 28.5k answer views
Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

Division and differences among this ummah is something inevitable, to which history bears witness, as do the texts of the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever among you lives after I am gone will see a great deal of dissent.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (4067); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

Dissent has occurred in the political field, as well as in the fields of thought and ‘aqeedah, which is represented in the appearance of different sects at the end of the era of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, such as the Murji’is, Shi’ah and Khawaarij.

But by His mercy, Allaah decreed that this division should happen when some groups drifted away from the way of the main body of the Muslims and developed their own different approach, and they were distinguished by their own names and character. So the ‘aqeedah of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, and the ‘aqeedah of the majority of Muslims, was not confused even for a day with that of the other, misguided sects, so that those sects would not dare to call themselves Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, rather they are called after the bid’ah (innovation) that they introduced, or the person who founded the sect. You can see that when you examine the names of all the sects.

The famous hadeeth about the ummah splitting into seventy-three sects bears witness to that.

It was narrated from Mu’aawiyah ibn Abi Sufyaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood among us and said: “Those who came before you of the people of the Book split into seventy-two sects, and this ummah will split into seventy-three: seventy-two in Hell and one in Paradise, and that is the jamaa’ah (main body of Muslims).”

Narrated by Abu Dawood (4597) and others; classed as saheeh by al-Haakim (1/128), who said: it is an important hadeeth that represents a basic principle. It was classed as hasan by Ibn Hajar in Takhreej al-Kashshaaf (63). It was classed as saheeh by Ibn Taymiyah in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (3/345), al-Shaatibi in al-I’tisaam (1/430), and al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej al-Ihya’ (9/133). It is mentioned frequently and often quoted as evidence by the scholars in the books of Sunnah, and it was narrated from a number of the Sahaabah via many isnaads, most of the soundest of which specify the number of sects as being seventy-three.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) described the saved group as the jamaa’ah, i.e., the consensus of the Muslim scholars. In other reports he also described them as “the vast multitude”, as in the hadeeth of Abu Umaamah and others which is recorded by Ibn Abi ‘Aasim in al-Sunnah (1/34) and al-Tabaraani in al-Mu’jam al-Kabeer (8/321), with an isnaad that is hasan li ghayrihi (hasan because of corroborating evidence).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also described them in the following terms: “My ummah will split into seventy-three sects, all of whom will be in Hell except one group.” They said: Who are they, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: “(Those who follow) that which I and my companions follow.” This is mentioned in the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr which was recorded and classed as hasan by al-Tirmidhi (2641). It was also classed as hasan by al-‘Iraaqi in Ahkaam al-Qur’aan (3/432), al-‘Iraaqi in Takhreej al-Ihya’ (3/284) and al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

This is the clearest sign that the Muslim can use to determine what is the saved group, so he should follow the way of the majority of scholars, those whom all the people testify are trustworthy and religiously-committed, and he should follow the way of the earlier scholars among the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and the four Imams and other scholars, and he should beware of every sect that differs from the main body of Muslims (jamaa’ah) by following innovation (bid’ah).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The sign of the people of bid’ah is that they do not follow the salaf. End quote from Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (4/155).

He also said (3/346): The sign of these groups – i.e., the seventy-two groups that go against Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah – is that they forsake the Qur’aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus. The one who follows the Qur’aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus is one of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah. End quote.

It is not permissible for anyone to imagine after this that the Shi’ah, for example, are the saved group, or that the deviant Sufis, Khawaarij or Habashis are the saved group. Rather these are innovated groups which only follow invented ideas, that are denounced by the scholars and the majority of Muslims, who feel repulsion in their hearts towards them. Their ideas were never believed in for a day by Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthmaan or ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them), or by Imam Abu Haneefah, Maalik, al-Shaafa’i or Ahmad ibn Hanbal. Would any wise person think that a belief that these imams were unaware of could be correct?

Think about it. There is the greatest and most obvious difference between Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah (the saved group) and other, misguided groups.

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) says:

Hence the saved group is described as Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah, and they are the greater majority and the vast multitude. As for the other groups, they are followers of weird ideas, division, innovation and whims and desires, and none of these groups reached anywhere close to the size of the saved group, let alone being equal to them, rather some of these groups are very small in number. The sign of these groups is that they go against the Qur'aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus. The one who follows the Qur’aan, Sunnah and scholarly consensus is one of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (3/346).

Al-Shaatibi has mentioned many names of the doomed groups in al-I’tisaam (1/453-460).

Secondly:

The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah have stated in their books that the other sects are among the misguided and doomed innovated groups, and that they deserve to enter Hell because of the reprehensible ideas and grave innovations that they have introduced into the religion of Allaah. But in most cases they are not regarded as kaafirs, rather they are regarded as Muslim sects.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Similarly, with the other seventy-two groups, those that are hypocrites are inwardly kaafirs, and those that are not hypocrites but rather believe inwardly in Allaah and His Messenger are not inwardly kaafirs, even though they are mistaken in their interpretations, regardless of what that mistake may be. Some of them may have some of the branches of hypocrisy, or they may not have the kind of hypocrisy that dooms a man to the lowest depths of Hell.

The one who says that each of the seventy-two sects is guilty of kufr that puts one beyond the pale of Islam is going against the Qur’aan and Sunnah and the consensus of the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them all), and the consensus of the four imams and others. None of them regarded any of the seventy-two sects as kaafirs, rather they regard one another as kaafirs.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (7/218).

This does not mean that every sect that calls itself Muslim is actually Muslim, rather they may be kaafirs and apostates, such as the extreme Raafidis, the extreme Sufis and the baatini sects such as the Druze, Nusayris and others. These are all beyond the pale of Islam and are not regarded as being among the sects mentioned in the hadeeth.

Thirdly:

The cause of difference and division among these groups mentioned in the hadeeth has to do with fundamental matters of religion and basic issues of ‘aqeedah, not differences of opinion regarding fiqh.

Al-Shaatibi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

These are regarded as sects because they differ from the saved group with regard to some fundamental issues of religion and basic rules of sharee’ah, not with regard to minor issues, because differences with regard to minor issues does not lead to division and factionalism, rather factionalism occurs when there are differences concerning fundamental issues of Islam.

Al-I’tisaam (1/439).

If some Muslim groups stand out from others because of a specific method of da’wah and working for Islam, but they do not go against Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah in their ‘aqeedah, then they are not to be regarded as doomed groups, rather they are among the saved group in sha Allaah, if they follow the way of the Sahaabah and Taabi’een in ‘aqeedah and action.

There are a number of questions on our site that offer more information and details about this issue. Please see questions no. 206, 1393, 10121, 10554, 10777, 12761 and 21065.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

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Sultan Abbasi
Sultan Abbasi, Under Construction.....
Answered Feb 22 2014
People who are Shia'a will say him Shia'a, Sunni will say him Sunni etc... because they are followers of all those Imams and Peers and further they all are divided.
I am a muslim and I say My Prophet was none of these. He was a Muslim and thats it.
ALLAH mentions in the Qura'an:

"And hold firmly to the rope of Allah all together and do not become divided. And remember the favor of Allah upon you - when you were enemies and He brought your hearts together and you became, by His favor, brothers. And you were on the edge of a pit of the Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus does Allah make clear to you His verses that you may be guided."

(Chapter 3, Verse 103)



and the advice for the non-muslims who wanted to become muslims from me is that:
Do not look at Muslims rather look at the Qura'an and the Sahih Hadeeth of Prophet and do not dispute and argue.
I would rather say DO NOT INVOLVE YOURSELF IN ALL THIS Just follow first step.
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Fayez Ameer
Fayez Ameer, studied at The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India
Answered May 31 2017 · Author has 232 answers and 38.1k answer views
Prophet is actual muslim. Which everybody follows. He is not Sunni, Shia,etc…

These groups evolved because there are some teachings other than in quran is taught. So the problem occurs at this point. Because there are lot of fake hadhees. Also correct hadhees, the muslim leaders arrived at various thoughts or inner meanings.

This all difference made to form different groups.

True muslim is the one who follow Quran and Hadhees(authentic teaching of prophet). If you want to be a true follower, follow the Quran and authentic teachings.

In Quran it has mentioned the muslims will be formed to 73 groups. But only one of the sects qill go to Jannah(Heaven). They are the true followers who had followed the path of Prophet.

May Allah include we all anong the correct followers.

We can try our best to follow the straight path taught by Prophet(“SAW”).

SAW:- swalallahu alayhi va salam.

174 Views
Fazal Malik
Fazal Malik, An Ahmadi Muslim who loves to reach out.
Answered Jul 20 2016 · Author has 182 answers and 128.9k answer views
Thank you for asking this question.

The Holy Prophet of Islam, Muhammad - peace and blessings of Allah be upon him - brought the complete living guidelines for humanity. This guidance is called the Holy Qur’an. He lived according to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an.

His beloved wife, Hazrat ‘Aisha (r.a) was once questioned about morals of the Holy Prophet (s.a.). Her reply was that he was an embodiment of the Holy Qur’an. He practiced whatever the Holy Qur’an states [Reference: Masnad Ahmad Bin Hunbeel, Volume 8, Page 144, Hadith Ayesha (r.a) #25108 - A'alim alKitab Beirut 1998]

If you wish to research further, here are some links with commentary:

Chapter 68:05 And thou dost, surely, possess sublime moral excellences.

Chapter 33:22 Verily you have in the Prophet of Allah an excellent model, for him who fears Allah and the Last Day and who remembers Allah much.

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Dino Mustafić
Dino Mustafić, Muslim
Answered Mar 15, 2016 · Author has 1.3k answers and 538.4k answer views
He was following himself mostly, actually. After first revelation, he'd followed his wife, who took him to her uncle. Sometimes he would follow his friends, for example Salman the Persian, when Salman had suggested to dig the trench. It was completely new strategy in the region, and Muhammad gladly took the advantage of that Persian custom, as it was a better tool for organising defence. 

He once saw Jews fasting, he asked "why", and he saw that the Muslims should do it to.

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Muhammad Azfar
Muhammad Azfar, GCE O Level Candidate, specialist in Islamiyat, Pak Studies
Answered Apr 28, 2018
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) is mercy and blessings for whole the universe. He was the Messenger of ALLAH. He had said that there will be 72 sects in my Ummah, so in any means no one can say that why there are sectarian believes in Islam because He said, and His words are the words of ALLAH. Basically, our duty is to resist these communalism and sectarianism in our Islamic society.

Prophet was the Messenger of ALLAH, He was free from any particular sect.

This is mine and your duty to resist such sectarianism which led to conflict, rather than to flourish these confliction.


There is no such thing as Wahabism, Saudi prince says
Riyadh governor says the teachings of the Sunni scholar Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab reflect 'pure Islam'.

Wael Mahdi
Wael Mahdi
March 18, 2010

Updated: March 18, 2010 04:00 AM
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JEDDAH // A leading member of the Saudi royal family has come out in defence of the religious teachings upon which Saudi Arabia was formed, dismissing accusations that they are distant from the essence of Islam. Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz, the governor of the Saudi capital Riyadh, told reporters on Monday that the Islamic structure of the Gulf kingdom, as laid out more than 250 years ago by the Sunni scholar Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab, reflected "pure Islam".

The prince dismissed the label "Wahabism", often used to describe Saudi Arabia's austere religious practices, saying there was nothing to differentiate Abdul Wahab's teachings from those of the Sharia. "Enemies of the sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab labelled his teaching as Wahabism, a doctrine that doesn't exist here," Prince Salman was quoted as saying by the daily Okaz newspaper. "I dare any one to bring a single alphabetical letter from the Sheikh's books that goes against the book of Allah ... and the teachings of his prophet, Mohammed."

The prince was speaking after a meeting of an executive committee formed to develop al Diriyah, the original capital of the Saudi state, just days before the Janadriya festival, a celebration of Saudi heritage, which began there yesterday. The Saudi state was established in 1744 by Prince Muhammad ibn Saud of Diriyah, who agreed to support Abdul Wahab in cleansing the Islamic faith from what he considered "innovation", or Bidah - the distortion of Islam. Abdul Wahab was a Salafist, believing in a return to the Islam practised by the Prophet Mohammed in the seventh century.

It was the Ottomans who first labelled Abdul Wahab's school of Islam in Saudi Arabia as Wahabism, according to the Saudi writer Abdul Aziz Qassim, a term that was then picked up by Britons during their incursion into the Middle East. The term has become widely used in the West, especially after the September 11 attacks, to describe certain forms of Islamic fundamentalism. "We don't like to call it the Wahabi movement but rather the reform or Salafi movement of the Sheikh," Qassim said.

Religious institutions in Saudi Arabia regularly come under international criticism over what is perceived to be harsh regulations of life in the kingdom, but Qassim said that should not be conflated with Abdul Wahab's teachings. "People who attack Wahabi teachings are referring to old views of the Sheikh and his followers but this is not fair as there are changes happening within the doctrine and among its followers," said Qassim, who also hosts religious television shows on Islamic channels.

"Saudi scholars were strict because the society was closed for hundreds of years, but they are changing nowadays." Qassim pointed to the tolerant views of the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz al Ashaikh, who is a descendant of Abdul Wahab, and to those of the minister of justice, Mohammed al Issa, who is against segregation between sexes in public and in universities. "Those two belong to the Wahabi school of thought and they are not extreme in their views," he said.

wmahdi@thenational.ae