10. Statement Ten
He says: Abu Uthman Amr bin Bahr Jahiz says:
“A chief trader told me: A bad mannered old man accompanied us on a
journey on ship and whenever Shia was mentioned to him, he became infuriated
and his complexion changed. One day I asked him: May God forgive you, what
harm has come to you from Shia? As I see that whenever they are mentioned, you
become infuriated and your face becomes aggrieved? The old man replied: Only
the Arabic letter of ‘sh’ [sheen] in their name distresses me. As it stands for: Shar
(mischief), Shum (evil), Shaitan, Shaghab (mischief), Shiqa (misfortune), Shifar
(defect), Sharar (sparks), Shayn (evil), Shok (thorn), Shikwa (complain), Shuhra
(degradation), Shatam (abuse), Shoh (miserliness).”
Abu Uthman says: “After this statement, no basis remains for validity of
Shia religion.”
Reply to Statement Ten
It is amazing that even though this old man cannot find any defect in the
Shia themselves, he invents the excuse of negative terms which begin with ‘sh’.
If this method becomes the standard to judge good and bad, there are many
names from ‘sh’ which are holy: as it is mentioned in a verse of the Holy Quran:
وَإِنَّ مِنْ شِيعَتِهِ لَا بْرَاهِيمَ
“And most surely Ibrahim followed his way.”1
And other verses where the term of Shia is used.2
More foolish than that old man is Abu Uthman, who thinks that after this
worthless statement, there remains no basis for the Shia. As if [with this illogical
statement] he has struck lightning on the Shia or brought down a mountain upon
their heads and destroyed them; or has provided a solid argument against them
and exposed them. But he does not understand that the old man has exposed his
own defect with these statements and has himself brought proof against himself.
Abu Uthman followed him blindly and Ibne Abde Rabbe also supported
them and quoted his statement in his book.
It should be asked whether this old nasty man not approves of the ‘sh’ words like Shariah, Shams (sun), Shuruq (lights), Shua (rays), Shahad (honey), Shafat
(intercession), Sharaf (nobility), Shabab (youth), Shukr (thankfulness), Shahamat
(glory), Shuja-at (valor), Shafaq (morning light)? Whereas these terms are also,
like the term of Shia, mentioned in the Holy Quran many times.
How do find this old liar, who sees the letter of ‘Sheen’ only in the word of
‘Shar’ and not in other words? Perhaps he is squint eyed and that is why he has
not seen terms weak in his eyes.
Is it within the capacity of the Shia, that like this old man to say that they are
aloof from Sunnis due to following words from ‘s’? Like: Sam (death), Saam
(grief), Sa-ar (severe hunger), Saqar (Hell), Sabi (captivity), Suqum (disease),
Samm (poison), Sawat (wantonness, unchastity, genitals), Saham (arrow), Sahu
(mistake), Sartan (cancer), Safah (foolishness), Safal (degradation), Sakhab
(beggary), Sakhat (anger), Sakhaf (ignorance), Saqat (consumption), Salita
(shamelessness), Samajat (obstinacy).
But the Shia are intelligent and wise and they don’t depend on foolish
statements and do not hurt the feelings of others through such tactics; and
through such kind of nonsense and frivolous statements, they do not demean any
point of view.
These were some baseless and illogical statements of Ibne Abde Rabbe, and
many others like them can be mentioned. So numerous are such statements that a
books full of them can be compiled. This book also contains historical mistakes;
like his statement about Zaid, the martyr:
“He lived in Khorasan and was eliminated and crucified there.”
In Minhajus Sunnah,3 Ibne Taymiyyah has added to these attributions and
allegations and Islamic society regards him to be the greatest fabricator from
among the past scholars and regard him remote from honesty and probity.
He has added: “Jews do not greet the Muslims properly and instead of
saying: Peace be on you, they say: Saam alaikum (death be on you). And the Shia
also do this.”
Jews do not regard wiping on shoes correct and Shia also are as such.
Jews do not regard the property of others unlawful for themselves; Shia are
also as such.
Jews, during the prayers, prostrate on the upper part of foreheads and Shia
are also as such.
Jews do not prostrate and instead of that they shake their heads a few times,
so that it seems to be like genuflection, Shia are also as such.
Jews regard it lawful to commit dishonesty and defraud people as lawful and
Shia are also as such.
And many other nonsensical and illogical statements.
But free thinking and your awareness and familiarity with Shia
jurisprudence, books, beliefs, their acts, and what is famous about them from the
past and present, will suffice for refuting these false accusations and improper
attributions.
I only complain to the Almighty Allah.
وَلَبِنِ اتَّبَعْتَ أَهْوَاءَهُمْ بَعْدَ الَّذِي جَاءَكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ مَا لَكَ مِنَ اللَّهِ مِنْ وَلِي وَلَا نَصِيرٍ
“And if you follow their desires after the knowledge that has come to you, you shall have no guardian from Allah, nor any helper.”4