Review on history of Shia

IMAMI SHIA

Shia in word and phrase:
Shiite word refers to two meanings: one of agreement and cooperation of two or more people on something, and another, an individual or a group follows a person or a group, and generally is for those who believe in caliphate and Imamate of Ali (PBUH), and they believe that imam and successor to the prophet is determined by the legal text and leadership of Imam Ali and other Imams were proved by the legal text. Calling Shia on friends and followers of Imam Ali was first made by the prophet Mohammad (PBUH). This matter is proved in many Hadith which has been brought from him. As SIYOUTI narrated from JABER ANSARI, that prophet told Imam Ali: you and Shia followers will be saved in the day of resurrection.
In the history of Shia, many sects emerged, and many of them were disappeared, and discussion about them, is of no use. The main branches of Shia, at present are 12 Imams, ZANDIYE and ESMAILIYE. We will talk about them in different sections. In this part, we will talk about 12 IMAMS.

Appellation:

Majority of Shia are IMAMIS. Because they believe the successors of prophet (PBUH), are 12 persons, therefore they are called as 12 imams. Name and characteristics of these imams were mentioned in hadith of the prophet. They are explained as:
1-ALI BEN ABITALEB, 2-HASAN BEN ALI, 3-HOSEIN BEN ALI, 4-ALI BEN HOSEIN, 5- BAGHER, 6- JAFAR NSADEGH, 7-MOUSA BEN JAFAR, 8-ALI BEN MOUSA, 9-JAVAD, 10- HADI, 11-HASAN ASGARI, 12-MAHDI
12 SHIA imams insists on IMAMAT, very much, and prefer their value more than other Muslims. On the other side, assumes the leadership for sons of imam HOSSEIN.

The history of the Shia emergence:

However, in the era of the prophet, differences emerged among Moslems about some of the issues, but at that time, there were no groups and sect at the time of the prophet, and after the death of the holy Mohammed, differences emerged, leading to the emergence of different sects among Muslims. The main difference in the first days after the demise of the prophet was caliphate, and this issue divided the Muslims in two parts. The first part was believing that IMAMAT is just like prophecy, and this is a divine position. And one of the conditions of leader is that he should be away from sin and mistake. And nobody knows about this feature except god, and according to these definitions, Ali must be the leader. Many leaders were supporting this theory and this is the main principle of 12 Shia imams.
Another group, which was headed by ABOUBAKR and Umar, was insisting on this matter that prophet did not select any successor and this issue has been granted to the people.
on this basis, and importance of caliphate and imamate and its vital role in the destiny of the Islamic UMMAH, in a hasty action, while imam Ali and some elders were burying the holy body of the prophet, some of the migrants (MOHAJERIN) and ANSAR, gathered in a place by name SAGHIFA, and after discussion about caliph of the prophet among them, they selected the ABOBAKR as the caliph. In that moment the situation was not allowing Ali and his followers to use force. Because and violent action could make serious damage to Islam, through foreign enemies like Persia and Rome and also, inside enemy (hypocrites). So Ali decided to tolerate the case for the benefit of Islam and Moslems. But in proper time he was mention about their wrong action and behavior. But avoided physical fights. And tried his level best to improve the Islamic society. As historians are reporting, Umar 70 times said: if Ali was not there, I would have been killed. And in another occasion said; oh God, when a difficult problem occurs, and Ali is not present, don’t allow me to live.
Anyway, Shia word as followers of ALI BEN ABOUTALEB was formed after the death of prophet. Of course, at the time of HAZRAT Mohammad, Shia word was applied on to four companions. They were consisted of: SALMAN, MEGHDAD, ABUZAR and AMAR YASER. These four were assuming Ali as the successor of the prophet. So, as Shia theory is associated with the tradition, we can say, Shiite, in fact is associated with Islam.