It was sunnah of AnHazoor (saw) to consult with his companions and a few verses of Quran also emphasize that but the formal establishment of Shura, it’s limits and regulations, was done under Hazrat Umar (ra). And according to the history I have read, Hazrat Ali (ra) was nominated to be among the few chosen to be part of the Shura by Hazrat Umar (ra).
So my questions are;
(1) Do organized Shias groups/organizations hold Shura?
(2) If so, how often? And is there any significant difference in their understanding of what Shura is and what its not than what was detailed by Hazrat Umar (ra)?
[42:39]And those, who hearken to their Lord, and observe Prayer, and whose affairs are decided by mutual consultation, and who spend out of what We have provided for them,
Shura was first established by Hazrat Umar (ra) as a body that advises the Khalifa on matters of state. His khilafat basically provided the backbone of the Islamic system, by modernizing and professionalizing the bureaucracy, military and other branches. The Khalifa that followed basically built on his foundation or frame work.
The Shura established by him was open to discuss any matter and then present its recommendations to the Khalifa and he was open to accept or reject it.
My basic inquiry is that did the Muslim dynasties such as the Fatmids, who were Shia & had their own Khalifa, did they had a tradition of a Shura and was that Shura in its basic tenets any different than the Shura of Hazrat Umar (ra)? And do different shia groups, for example the Ismaili, actually hold Shuras these days and if they do, how is it structured?
I do know that some Sunni groups and organizations hold Shura but their Shura is basically the governing body of that organization. They are not advisors, they are more like legislators.
My basic inquiry is that did the Muslim dynasties such as the Fatmids, who were Shia & had their own Khalifa, did they had a tradition of a Shura and was that Shura in its basic tenets any different than the Shura of Hazrat Umar (ra)? .
While I dont know the presentday shia position on shura but historically in the safavid and fatmid dynasties I dont think there was any such thing,but that is hardly surprising since even the sunnis dynasties didnt have it either.
The caliph(shia or sunni) was God's Viceroy on earth so there was no need of shura or consultation [possible exception might have been Umar II(ra)]
The concept of shura disappeared with the pious caliphate till revived in modern times.
while fatimids were ismailis (and thus not mainstream shia) and safavids werent really representatives of shia religious thought, i dont think there is anything quite like the shura council in the shia isna ashari sect. that said, there is certainly precedent for consultation with peers and followers in the imams and the subsequent religious figures, like in all good leaders of men.