The word “Shia” is derived from the Arabic word “Shaya’ah” meaning to ‘Love, Follow and Help’. Hafiz Abu Hatim Razi, in his Az-Zainat, which he compiled for clarifying the meanings of certain words and phrases current among scholars, says that the first new word that came into general acceptance in Islam in the days of the Prophet was “Shia.” The word “Shia”, literally means “follower” was applied to four prominent companions: Abu Dharr Ghifari, Salman Farsi, Miqdad bin Aswad Kindi, and Ammar Yasir. One of Ahle Sunnah greatest ulema, Firuzabadi, in his Qamusu’l-Lughat, says, “The name ‘Shia’ commonly means every person who is a friend of Ali and his Ahle Bait. This name is peculiar to them. Exactly the same meaning is given by Ibn Athir in Nihayatu’l-Lughat.
According to your (Ahle Sunnah) commentaries, the word Shia means “follower of Ali Bin Abu Talib” and was used in this way during the time of the Prophet. In fact, it was the Prophet himself who introduced the word Shia as meaning “follower of Ali Bin Abu Talib.” And this word was used by the Holy Prophet about whom Allah says: “Nor does he speak out of desire. It is naught but revelation that is revealed.” (53:3-4) The Prophet called the followers of Ali “The Shia,” the “delivered,” and the “rescued.” We can find several books of Ahle Sunna such as Durre Manthoor in ‘Siyuti’, ‘Sawaiqa Mohariqa’ of Ibne Hajar Makki, ‘Hakeem II’, ‘Masnad’ of Imam Hanbal, ‘Tarikh Baghadid’ of Khateeb, ‘Rabiul Abrar’ of Zamakhshari, Ibne Atheer, Ibne Adi and other.
1) Hafiz Abu Nu’aim Ispahani is one of the most distinguished of your (Ahle Sunnah) narrators of hadith. Ibn Khallikan has praised him in his Wafayatu’l-A’ayan’ as one of the great Huffaz (men of wisdom), and one of the most learned narrators of hadith. He also states that the ten volumes of his Hilyatu’l-Auliya are among the most instructive of books. Salahu’d-din Khalil bin Aibak Safdi writes in his Wafiy bi’l-Wafiyat about him, “The crown of narrators of hadith, Hafiz Abu Nu’aim, was the foremost in knowledge, piety, and honesty. He enjoyed a high position in the narration and understanding of hadith. His best work is Hilyatu’l-Auliya in 10 volumes, consisting of derivations from the two Sahihs.” Muhammad bin Abdullah al-Khatib praises him in Rijali’l-Mishkati’l-Masabih, saying that he is among the leading narrators of hadith whose narrations are utterly reliable. In short, this respected scholar and traditionist, the pride of Ahle Sunnah ulema, relates from Abdullah bin Abbas through his own chain of narrators in his book Hilyatu’l-Auliya relates: “When the following verse of the holy Qur’an was revealed: ‘(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men. Their reward with their Lord is gardens of perpetuity beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein for ever. Allah is well pleased with them and they are well pleased with Him; that is for him who fears his Lord.’ (98:7-8), the Holy Prophet, addressing Ali, said: ‘O Ali, the best of creatures (Khairu’l-bariyya) in this holy verse refers to you and your followers (Shia). On the Day of Resurrection, you and your followers (Shia) shall attain such a position that Allah will be pleased with you, and you will be pleased with Him.’”
2) Similarly, Abu’l-Muwayyid Muwafiq Bin Ahmad Khawarizmi in the 17th chapter of his Manaqib; Hakim Abu’l-Qasim Abdullah Bin Abdullahi’l-Haskani, in Shawahidu’t-tanzil; Muhammad Bin Yusuf Ganji Shafi’i in Kifayatu’t-Talib, p. 119, Sibt Ibn Jauzi in Tadhkira, p. 31, Munzir Bin Muhammad Bin Munzir, and particularly Hakim, have related that Hakim Abu Abdullah Hafiz (one of the greatest of your ulema) said: based on the testimony of narrators reaching back to Yazid Bin Sharafi’l-Ansari, the scribe of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali Bin Abu Talib, that Ali said that at the time of the Prophet’s death, the Prophet rested on Ali’s chest and said: “You have heard the holy verse: ‘Those who believe and do good deeds, it is they who are the best of creatures.’ (98:7) These are your Shia. My and your meeting place shall be at the fountain of Kauthar (in Paradise). When all created beings assemble for reckoning, your face will be bright, and you will be identified on that day as the leader of the bright-faced people.”
3) Jalalu’d-din Suyuti, in his Durru’l-Mansur quotes Abu’l-Qasim Ali Bin Hasan (commonly known as Ibn Asakir Damishqi), who quotes Jabir Bin Abdullah Ansari, one of the greatest companions of the Prophet, as saying that he and others were sitting with the Holy Prophet when Ali Bin Abu Talib came in. The Holy Prophet said: “I swear by Him Who controls my life that this man (Ali) and his Shia shall secure deliverance on the Day of Resurrection.” At that time the verse cited above was revealed. In the same commentary, Ibn Adi quotes Ibn Abbas as saying that when the above verse was revealed, the
Prophet said to the Commander of the Faithful, Ali, “You and your followers (Shia) will come on the Day of Resurrection in such a condition that all of you will be pleased with Allah, and Allah will be pleased with you.”
4) In the Manaqib of Khawarizmi, the following is related from Jabir bin Abdullah Ansari: “I was in the presence of the Holy Prophet when Ali joined us, and thereupon the Holy Prophet said: ‘It is my brother that has come to you.’ Then, facing towards the Ka’ba, the Prophet took hold of Ali’s hand and said: ‘By Him Who controls my life, this Ali and his Shia will be delivered on the Day of Judgement.’
Then he said: ‘Ali is the foremost of you all in belief, the most regardful about Allah’s pledges, the most just of you all in deciding matters of the people, the most equitable of you in distributing allowances among the people, and the highest of you all in rank before Allah.’” On that occasion, the verse cited above was revealed.
5) In Chapter II of his Sawa’iq, Bin Hajar quotes Hafiz Jamalu’d-Din Muhammad Bin Yusuf Zarandi Madani (a great scholar of your sect – Ahlel Sunnah) as saying that when the above verse was revealed, the Holy Prophet said: “O Ali, you and your Shia are the best of created beings. You and your Shias will come on the Day of Judgement in such a condition that all of you will be pleased with Allah, and Allah will be pleased with you. Your enemies will be resentful, and their hands shall be tied round their necks.” Then Ali asked who was his enemy. The Holy Prophet replied, “One who is hostile to you, and who reviles you.”
Also from the same book page 93, he quote from Daarqutni who heard from Umme Salma saying, “O’ Ali! You and your Shia shall attain Paradise.”
6) Allama Samhudi, in Jawahiru’l-Iqdain, on the authority of Hafiz Jamalu’d-Din Zarandi Madani and Nuru’d-din Ali bin Muhammad bin Ahmad Maliki Makki, known as Ibn Sabbagh, who is regarded as one of your distinguished scholars and eminent theologians, in his Fusulu’l-Muhimma relates from Abdullah bin Abbas that when the verse under discussion was revealed, the Prophet said to Ali: “It is you and your Shias. You and they will come on the Day of Judgement fully pleased and satisfied, while your enemies will come in grief, with bound hands.”
7) Mir Seyyed Ali Hamadani Shafi’i, one of Ahle Sunnah eminent scholars, in his Mawaddatu’l-Qurba, and the well known anti-Shia scholar, Ibn Hajar, in his Sawa’iq-e Muhriqa narrate from Ummu’l-Mu’minin Umme Salma, the wife of the Prophet, that the Holy Prophet said: “O Ali, you and your Shias will abide in Paradise; you and your Shias will abide in Paradise.”
8) The well known scholar of Khawarizm, Muwaffaq bin Ahmad, in his Manaqib, Chapter 19, relates on reliable authority that the Prophet said to Ali: “In my community you are like the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary.” This statement implies that as the followers of the Prophet Jesus were divided into three groups: the true believers, known as hawari’in, the Jews, and the exaggerators, who associated him with Allah. In the same way Muslims would become divided into three groups. One of them would be the Shias, the true believers. The other group would be Ali’s enemies, and the third group would be the exaggerators of his position.
9) Ibne Hajar Makki in his book ‘Sawiqa Mohariqa’ (page 93) quoted from Daarqutni who heard Umme Salma saying : “O’ Ali! You and your Shia shall attain Paradise.”
Many more hadith were quoted in support of the same point. Now it is for you to consider how it was possible that during the time of the Prophet four of his chief companions were called Shia. If the Prophet thought it was innovation, why didn’t he forbid the people to use it? The fact is that people had heard from the Prophet himself that the followers (Shias) of Ali were the inhabitants of Heaven. They were proud of it and openly called themselves Shias.
Bukhari is the authentic book of Ahlel Sunnah admit that there was A GROUP which was during the Holy Prophet (s.a.w) and opposed the Selection of Khalifa in Saqifa and that that GROUP WAS OF ALI (A.S) AND HIS SHIA.
Umar group differed with A GROUP WHICH SUPPORTED THE HOLY PROPHET (S.A.W), and
Umar saying “Habsboona Kitab Allah” and “this man talking nonsense (Hajar)”
Volume 7, Book 70, Number 573:
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
When Allah's Apostle was on his death-bed and in the house there were some people among whom was 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, the Prophet said, "Come, let me write for you a statement after which you will not go astray." 'Umar said, "The Prophet is seriously ill and you have the Qur'an; so the Book of Allah is enough for us." The people present in the house differed and quarrelled. Some said "Go near so that the Prophet may write for you a statement after which you will not go astray," while the others said as Umar said. When they caused a hue and cry before the Prophet, Allah's Apostle said, "Go away!" Narrated 'Ubaidullah: Ibn 'Abbas used to say, "It was very unfortunate that Allah's Apostle was prevented from writing that statement for them because of their disagreement and noise."
More of the same type of Hadiths can be found in other places :
Volume 1, Book 3, Number 114:
Volume 9, Book 92, Number 468:
Volume 4, Book 52, Number 288:
Volume 4, Book 53, Number 393:
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 716:
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 717:
ALI (A.S) AND HIS SHIA openely oppossed the Selection of Khalifa in Saqifa, read from Omar own words in Bukhari :
Volume 8, Book 82, Number 817
Narrated Ibn 'Abbas:
And no doubt after the death of the Prophet we were informed that the ANSAR DISAGREED WITH US and gathered in the shed of Bani Sa'da. 'ALI AND ZUBAIR AND WHOEVER WAS WITH THEM, OPPOSED US, while the emigrants gathered with Abu Bakr.
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 546:
Narrated 'Aisha:
When she died, her husband 'Ali, buried her at night without informing Abu Bakr and he said the funeral prayer by himself. When Fatima was alive, the people used to respect 'Ali much, but after her death, 'Ali noticed a change in the people's attitude towards him. So Ali sought reconciliation with Abu Bakr and gave him an oath of allegiance. 'Ali had not given the oath of allegiance during those months (i.e. the period between the Prophet's death and Fatima's death). When she died, her husband 'Ali, buried her at night without informing Abu Bakr and he said the funeral prayer by himself. When Fatima was alive, the people used to respect 'Ali much, but after her death, 'Ali noticed a change in the people's attitude towards him. So Ali sought reconciliation with Abu Bakr and gave him an oath of allegiance. 'Ali had not given the oath of allegiance during those months (i.e. the period between the Prophet's death and Fatima's death).
Even Aisha who disliked Ali (a.s) admitted that there were two Groups, one from his father side and other from ALI (A.S) AND HIS SHIA. Below two types of hadiths showed how she found difficult to mention the name of Ali (a.s) and how she defended her father.
Volume 1, Book 4, Number 197:
Narrated 'Aisha:
When the ailment of the Prophet became aggravated and his disease became severe, he asked his wives to permit him to be nursed (treated) in my house. So they gave him the permission. Then the Prophet came (to my house) with the support of two men, and his legs were dragging on the ground, between 'Abbas, and another man." 'Ubaid-Ullah (the sub narrator) said, "I informed 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas of what'Aisha said. Ibn 'Abbas said: 'Do you know who was the other man?' I replied in the negative. Ibn 'Abbas said, 'He was 'Ali (bin Abi Talib)." 'Aisha further said, "When the Prophet came to my house and his sickness became aggravated he ordered us to pour seven skins full of water on him, so that he might give some advice to the people. So he was seated in a Mikhdab (brass tub) belonging to Hafsa, the wife of the Prophet. Then, all of us started pouring water on him from the water skins till he beckoned to us to stop and that we have done (what he wanted us to do). After that he went out to the people."
More of the same type of Hadiths can be found in other places in Bukhari:
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 727:
Volume 1, Book 11, Number 634:
Volume 7, Book 71, Number 612:
Volume 4, Book 51, Number 4:
Narrated Al-Aswad:
In the presence of 'Aisha some people mentioned that the Prophet had appointed 'Ali by will as his successor. 'Aisha said, "When did he appoint him by will? Verily when he died he was resting against my chest (or said: in my lap) and he asked for a wash-basin and then collapsed while in that state, and I could not even perceive that he had died, so when did he appoint him by will?"
Volume 5, Book 59, Number 736:
Narrated Al-Aswad:
It was mentioned in the presence of 'Aisha that the Prophet had appointed 'Ali as successor by will. Thereupon she said, "Who said so? I saw the Prophet, while I was supporting him against my chest. He asked for a tray, and then fell on one side and expired, and I did not feel it. So how (do the people say) he appointed 'Ali as his successor?"
Imam Hassan (a.s) when he wrote the agreement with Muawiya, one of the condition was :
“That the companions and followers (Shia) of Ali, their lives, properties, their women, and their children, will be guaranteed safe conduct and peace. This is a solemn agreement and covenant in the name of Allah, binding Muawiyah bin Abi Sufyan to keep it and fulfil it.”
Imam Hussain (a.s) when reached at the land of Karbala his followers were called as “Shiatul Ali”, take example of Zuhair bin Qayn the one who was known to be with the group of Uthman before joining to Imam Hussain (a.s).
Azra bin Qays asked Zuhair : “O Zuhair, you were not among the Shi’is of Ali, but were known to be an Uthmani?”
Zuhair replied : “ But now being with Hussain you must recognise that I am Shi’I of Ali.”