Title: Are Shiites Muslims? Question: I was reading your responses regarding the issue about Shias whether they are Muslims or not? Shias are NOT Muslims [Period]. Please examine the following. The Islamic Ruling on Shi`ites Dr. Ahmad al-Afghaanee The Mirage in Iran Edited and Translated by Dr. B. Philips Imaam ash-Shaafi`ee On one occasion ash-Shaafi`ee said concerning the Shi`ites, "I have not seen among the heretics a people more famous for falsehood than the Raafidite Shi`ites." [ Ibn Taymeeyah , Minhaaj as-Sunnah an-Nabawiyyah , 1/39] On another occasion he said, "Narrate knowledge from everyone you meet except the Raafidite Shi`ites, because they invent Hadeeths and adopt them as part of their religion." [Ibid, p. 38] Imaam Abu Haneefah It was reported that often Abu Haneefah used to repeat the following statement about the Shi`ites, "Whoever doubts whether they are disbelievers has himself committed disbelief." Imaam Maalik Once Maalik was asked about them and he replied, "Do not speak to them nor narrate from them, for surely they are liars." [ Minhaaj as-Sunnah , 1/37] During a class of Imaam Maalik , it was mentioned that the Raafidite Shi`ites curse the Sahaabah . In reply, he quoted the Quranic verse, "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and those with him are harsh with the disbelievers and gentle among themselves. So that the disbelievers may become enraged with them." He then said, "Whoever becomes enraged when the Sahaabah are mentioned is one about whom the verse speaks." [ Tafseeer al-Qurtubee , Soorah al-Fath ; Editor's note: That is, anyone who is enraged by the mention of the Sahaabah is a disbeliever, because the verse says, "...the disbelievers may become enraged with them ( Sahaabah )."] Ibn al-Mubaarak Ibn al-Mubaarak was reported to have said, "Religion is gained from Ahl al-Hadeeth , scholastic theology and crafty exemptions from religious ordinances of Ahl ar-Ray and lies from the Raafidite Shi`ites." [ Adh-Dhahabee , al Muntaqaa min Minhaaj al-I`tidaal , p. 480 Abu Zur`ah ar-Raazee This great scholar was quoted as saying, "If you see someone degrade any of the companions of the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam , know that he is a disbeliever. Because the Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam , was real, what he brought was the truth and all of it was conveyed to us by the way of the Sahaabah . What those disbelievers wish to do is to cast doubt on the reliability of our narrators in order to invalidate the Quraan and the Sunnah . Thus the disbelievers are the ones most deserving defamation." Al-Qaadee Abu Ya`laa It was reported that Abu Ya`laa said, "The position of jurists concerning one who curses the Sahaabah , believing that such an act is permissible, is that he has committed an act of disbelief. If he curses them but does not believe that cursing them is permissible, then he is guilty of immorality, and not disbelief." [ Ibn Taymeeyah , as-Sawaarim al-Maslool , p. 569] At-Tahaawee In his book on the Islamic creed, al-`Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah , the author states, "We love the companions of Allaah's Prophet, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam , without going overboard in our love of anyone of them or remaining aloof ( tabarra ) from any of them. We hate those who hate them or speak ill of them and we only speak well of them. Loving them is a religious act, and an expression of faith and righteousness while hating them is an act of disbelief, hypocrisy and transgression." [ Sharh al-`Aqeedah at-Tahaawiyyah , p. 528]. Ibn Hazm al-Andaloosee One day during the period of Muslim rule in Spain, Imaam Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm was having a debate with some Spanish Catholic priests about their religious texts. He brought before them evidence of textual distortions in the Bible and the loss of original manuscripts. When they replied by pointing out to him Shi`ite claims also being distorted, Ibn Hazm informed them that Shi`ite could not be used as evidence against the Quraan or against Muslims because they are not themselves Muslims." [ Ibn Hazm , al-Fisaal fee al-Milal wa an-Nihal , 2/78 and 4/182] Their claims have been rebutted by numerous other early scholars like Ibn Taymeeyah in Minhaaj as-Sunnah , adh-Dhahabee in Muntaqaa min Minhaaj al-I`tidaal , Ibn Katheer in his history book [ al-Bidaayah wa an-Nihaayah ], Ibn al-Jawzee in Talbees Iblees , and al-Qaadee ibn al-`Arabee in al-`Awwaasim min al-Qawaasim . Would you comment? Answer: Please refer to a couple of my earlier responses on the subject titled: " Declaring Someone 'Non-Muslim' " and a subsequent discussion on the topic. Regards and salaam 4 th July 2000