Part 1:The Imams from Ahlebayt whom Shia consider to be their divinely appointed Imam

[Ibn_Sadique]

Re: Part 1:The Imams from Ahlebayt whom Shia consider to be their divinely appointed

@Pagluu

Neither “majority” nor “minority” are valid grounds to say that a philosophy is the truth.
Quite obviously one can not just follow the majority thinking that they have the numbers so they must be right. From global perspective there are 2B Christians, but are they right according to us?

Quran states that from Mankind – Majority will not follow the Truth! The Believers will always be in a minority.

Count all the non-Muslims globally – they are in Majority!

We are discussing Majority within the Muslims (Believers).

@Pagluu

From Islamic perspective, 72 in Karbala stood along Imam Hussain (as) against the Muslim army of thousands yet the truth was with the minority.

The example you have given is within Muslims. Good Muslims vs the bad Muslims. Better illustration would have been the battle of Badr, minority Muslims vs Majority Kuffar.

@Pagluu

Quran condones “majority” in many verses and calls them “astray”, “ungrateful”, and “followers of conjecture”. From my understanding of the Holy Quran I take that the number of true, sincere believers is small (regardless of what tags people attach to themselves be it Sunni, Shia, Christian, Jew et. al).

Quran condemns “majority" of Mankind but not the “majority” of Believers!

Please don’t confuse yourself between “majority" of Mankind & the “majority” of Believers!

@Pagluu

As for the criteria to become one and building ground for unity unity. The fundamental point is that we must force ourselves in believing that everybody who utters the shahada is a Muslim. Very simple notion that is taught by the Quran, Prophet (saww) and his Ahlul Bayt (as) themselves.

Your statement that: “everybody who utters the shahada is a Muslim” is conditionally true.

Will you apply that to the Ahmadiyah or Alevis (those who take Hz. Ali (ra) to be God!) They do recite the Kalimah Tayyibah.

That’s the reason the Prophet (saw) said about 73 sects within Muslims.

So he warned his Ummah not to follow the fringe sects but be with Majority of the Believers:

*The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said “The Jews split into 71 groups; one will enter Paradise and 70 will enter Hell. The Christians split into 72 groups; 71 will enter Hell and one will enter Paradise. By Him in Whose Power is the life of Muhammad, without doubt, my Ummah will be divided into 73 groups. Only one will enter Paradise and 72 will enter Hell.”
When asked which group will be on the right path, the holy Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “The main (al-Jama’ah) body of the Muslims.” [Ibne Majah Kitab al-Fitan]

The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said " There was disagreement amongst Jews and they split into 72 groups. In exactly the same way, there will be disagreement and divisions in my Ummah. It will split into 73 groups. Apart from one of those groups, all the remaining 72 will be thrown into Hell."
When asked which group will be on the right path, the holy Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) replied, “The group on the right path, which will enter Paradise, will be the group which follows my Sunna and that of my Sahaba and this will be the largest group of Muslims.” [Tirmizi, Imam Ahmad, Abu Daud, Mishkat]

The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said “Without doubt my Ummah will never be gathered in misguidance. Whenever you see disagreement, then hold fast to the Sawad-e-Azam (the great majority)” [Ibne Majah]

The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said “Follow the way of the largest group of Muslims! For, he who deviates from this group will be thrown into Hell!" [Ibne Majah]

The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said “The devil continually pursues humans as a wolf pursues sheep. The wolf only dares to attack those sheep which have separated from the rest of the flock and are standing alone. And so, my followers and my devotees! Save yourselves from being caught in the traps of misguidance and firmly remain with the largest and most well known group of Muslims!” Imam Ahmed]

The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said " Allah will never allow my Ummah to unite upon misguidance and incorrect beliefs. Allah’s mercy, blessings and protection are with the largest group of Muslims. And he who deviates from this largest group of Muslims will be thrown into Hell." Tirmizi]

The Prophet (Sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said " He who deviates from the largest group of Muslims, even as much as a hand span, has himself cut off his connection with Islam." [Abu Daud, Imam Ahmed] *

That is exactly what Hz. Ali (ra) is warning about!

@Ibn_Sadique

With regard to me, two categories of people will be ruined, namely he who loves me too much and the love takes him away from rightfulness, and he who hates me too much and the hatred takes him away from rightfulness. The best man with regard to me is he who is on the middle course. So be with him and be with the great majority (of Muslims) because Allah’s hand (of protection) is on keeping unity. You should beware of division because the one isolated from the group is (a prey) to Satan just as the one isolated from the flock of sheep is (a prey) to the wolf. - Nahjul Balagha SERMON 126

Surely never in history have Shias ever been "the great majority (of Muslims) - Just a fringe 10% of Muslims World.

That doesn’t mean just because someone is from the Majority, he/she will ‘automatically’ enter Jannah, one has to have the good deeds to show. There should be no complacency/smugness or comfort of being from the majority. Good deeds have to be part of having correct beliefs.

At the same time there could be a very pious person with good deeds from the minority but will have to account for his/her sectarian beliefs.

There is NO free tickect to Jannah except those who deserve it. And where pointed out by the Prophet (saw).