What is the difference between allah and ali

Have you been given any authority from Imam AS to propagate your ideas like this. As per constitution, only Imam AS has authority to interpret religion. Why u are coming with your own interpretation and labeling it as Ismaili interpretation. Ivanow Leiden, Netherlands: E. Brill, , pg Yours is yours. I hope for your forgiveness in making you uncomfortable with the essay. Warm regards, Shafeen Ali. On a purely spiritual level Allah and Imam can not be defined ,described ,understood ,comprehended ,explained or interpreted ,one has to get to that level to feel Him, in short one has to be Mansoor- Al Hilaj ,and when one achieves that level ,every thing else is not worth the dust on the road I mean all material things.

But that domain is out of body ,non human and is only understood by the one who is there. This was not in the essay so following is my attempt at this. Again, this is my own personal interpretation. Please, forgive me my shortcomings! For me, this statement bears witness to mono-realism rather than mono-theism as explained by Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah A.

It relates with the Ali-Allah reality in that Ali is not separate from Allah and is also contained within the one reality Tawhid which is Allah. Then, in creation, through Ali, through the wasilah of Ali, Allah makes Himself known to His creation. The river dissolves in the ocean as described in the essay as per the speech of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah A. For me, this statement is about the complete dependence-reliance Tawakkul of each and every one of us on Allah.

But how can we depend on Allah if He is beyond everything, above everything else? How can you hold a hand that you cannot see? This statement relates with the Ali-Allah reality in that through Ali, through the wasilah of Ali, Allah makes His hand available for us to hold.

Here we find on one side divinity, on the other side infinity. For what is the greater — time, space, the starry heavens, intelligence, knowledge? It means that everything else is within the womb of the greater — everything else is maintained and sustained by Divine Power, including the furthest spaces of imagination.

This relates to the Ali-Allah reality in that just as everything else is maintained and sustained by Divine Power, so is Ali. This is important to understand because often times we may pray to the Imam i. This is further explained in the essay. This relates to the Ali-Allah reality in that it raises Allah above Ali in ontology, in being. For me, this statement speaks to the non-materiality of God for nothing in existence that we can detect with our physical senses is like Him.

This relates with the Ali-Allah reality as follows:. The body is temporal and not eternal. But as per Quran , Ayah-e-Nur, within that body is a lamp, and within that lamp is a light, and that light is lit even though no fire has touched it i. Again, this is explained in further depth in the essay itself. Though basically the topic is about Ali Allah and recognition of Imam but he has spread his thesis by including other topics seems not directly related to topic.

Looks like he has twisted the statement and sayings of Imam in favor of his topic. Mostly what he has described have been told and told again and again in waizes except his personal experience at dedaar time. My intention is not to discourage him but clarify some of his assertions and contradictions. You should obey the Farmans of the Imam of the time.

The whole world will change, therefore you should obey the Farmans of the Imam of the time. As the time changes so do the Farmans change. Shafeen wrote: Who or What is the Imam in relation to God? When the angels were asked to prostrate to Adam, they were not prostrating to the body of Adam; they were prostrating to the batin, which that body, made zahir, the spirit of God, within Adam.

Reply: Here comes the contradiction. The Nur has been handed down in direct descent from the Prophet. The words used are, mazhar, wittness or proof of God. Noor of who? Two different entities. Reply: In the phrase Aliyyullah there is no mention of noor in this phrase.

Ali means High, Exalted and Noor means light. Imam has not used the words Noorullah in Dua. Two necessary truths must also follow. Reply: Again contradict. Two necessary Truths. Two necessary truths shows two different entities and Ali is Wasilah from and to Allah does not imply Ali is Allah.

However, it is worth noting that Wahhabist influence has also led to hardened divisions within Sunni Islam too. It is also helpful in understanding tensions between communities not only in the Middle East but in the West too. Please refer to our Copyright page for full details. Kim Knott , Ben Lee. Understanding the differences between the two most populous branches of Islam is essential for comprehending many of the geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East as well as community tensions in diasporic communities in the West.

Shiites consider Ali and his descendants the rightful successors of the Prophet, entitled to lead the Muslims by divine and infallible inspiration. This issue is not, of course, simply a genealogical matter, because it raises the vital issue of knowing from which authority to obtain guidance as to the will of Allah and its exercise on earth.

In support of this belief, Shiites refer to certain sayings of Muhammad debated by the Sunnis, such as: "I am the city of knowledge and Ali is my gate" Bayat , 4.

The distinctiveness of Twelver Shiism lies in its belief that the Twelfth Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi, disappeared and will reappear one day to inaugurate a reign of justice that will presage the final judgment. Those Shiites who are not Twelver Shiites also believe that Ali was the rightful Imam, in succession to Muhammad, but differ on the importance of some of the succeeding Imams. The Zaydis believe that the Imams received divine guidance, but do not believe in their infallibility or share the commitment to all twelve Imams, and reject the doctrine about the hidden Imam.

Sunni-Shiite Doctrinal Differences Of the Sunni and Twelver Shiite differences, some of the most important relate to the issue of the Imamate; the question of intercession between Allah and human beings; matters not delineated by the Koran; the means of attaining paradise; and the role of present-day Imams, or religious leaders. In the Shiite view, the twelve Imams inherited their positions as the exclusive leaders of the Muslims through the authority of the Prophet Muhammad and divine ordination.

They are considered to have been not only Muhammad's temporal successors but also the inheritors of the prerogatives of closeness to Allah, and the interpreters of the Koran. According to Shiism, the "Imam" has three functions: to rule over the Islamic community, to explain the religious sciences and law, and to be a spiritual guide to lead human beings to an understanding of the inner meaning of things. Because of these functions, he cannot possibly be elected by a public assembly.

As a spiritual guide he receives his authority only from on "high. The Imam is to be concerned with daily matters as well as the spiritual and unmanifested world.

His functions are at once human and cosmic Nasr , The "Twelve Imams" are mediators for mankind Donaldson , Sunni Muslims. The above beliefs of the "Twelvers," which give legitimacy to the verbal and written comments of "The Twelve Imams," are categorically rejected by the Sunnis, who do not consider the institution of hereditary "Imamate" as part of the Islamic faith. All the prophets of Allah recognized by Islam, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Christ, and Muhammad, are seen as having been divinely ordained to guide human beings to worship Allah and seek His mercy.

However, even the progeny of prophets are considered to be denied the privilege of the closeness and the blessings of Allah if they fail to practice His commandments. A typical expression of this belief is the Koranic passage,.

And remember that Abraham was tried by his Lord with certain commands which he fulfilled. Allah said: I will make thee Imam to the Nations. Abraham pleaded: "And also Imams from my offspring!

The Sunni Muslims do not place any human being, including the Twelve Shiite Imams, on a level equal to or even close to the prophets. The Sunni view is that nowhere in the Koran is it mentioned that the twelve Shiite Imams are divinely ordained to lead Muslims after the death of Muhammad.

Muslims should be guided by words such as those in Muhammad's last "Hajj" sermon, known as the Sermon of the Mount, in which he addressed all of humanity:. One is the "Book of Allah," and the other is my "tradition" Zaheer , The Sunni Muslims believe that no one can intercede between Allah and human beings. Say: To God belongs exclusively [the right to grant] intercession. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. In the End, it is to Him that ye shall be brought back Koran Shiite Muslims.

According to Shiism, the Twelve Imams can intercede between mankind and Allah. The Apostle of Allah said to Ali: " - - - You and your descendants are mediators for mankind as they [human beings] will not be able to know God except through your introduction" Donaldson , Consensus and analogy can be applied by those scholars who are highly knowledgeable in the Koran, the traditions of the prophet, and Islamic law, and practice the faith in every facet of their lives.

The sources of Muslim law in Shiism are somewhat similar to those in Sunni Islam, namely the Koran, Muhammad's practices, consensus, and analogy.

However, the determination of consensus is related to the views of the Imams, and more freedom is given to analogy than in Sunni Islam Nasr , Sunni Muslims strongly believe that the redemption of human beings is dependent on faith in Allah, His prophets, acceptance of Muhammad as the final prophet, and belief in righteous deeds as explained in the Koran.

The mercy of Allah will determine the redemption of all human beings. Even the prophet Muhammad is at the mercy of Allah. There are many other verses in the Koran which enumerate that the basis of paradise is the mercy of Allah and the righteous deeds of human beings according to the Koran and Hadith.

Shiite Muslims are guaranteed paradise if they obey and follow Muhammad and the Twelve Imams. They are considered righteous Muslims, and the Twelve Imams are particularly respected because of their relationship to Ali and his wife Fatima, the daughter of Muhammad. Sunnis believe that Ali and his two sons, Hassan and Hussain, were highly respected by the first three Caliphs and the companions of Muhammad. Any righteous and knowledgeable Sunni Muslim can serve as an Imam with the prime function of leading the prayers and interpreting the Koran and Hadith provided he is well versed in these subjects.

Sunnis also consider it heretical to impute to human beings attributes of Divine nature such as infallibility and the knowledge of all temporal and cosmic matters. The highest ranking present-day Imams Ayatollahs are believed to receive their guidance and spiritual enlightenment directly from the "Twelve Imams," who stay in continuous contact with their followers on earth every day through contemporary spiritual leaders. The Ayatollahs thus play a vital mediatory role. Because of their spiritual role, Ayatollahs cannot be appointed by governments, but only by consensus of other Ayatollahs.

Differences in Religious Organization The differences between Sunni and Shiite Islam are more than theological and historical. They are embedded in the social and political structure of the Middle East.

Sunnis and Shiites form distinct communities. Conversions from Shiism to Sunnism and vice versa are rare, and Sunnis and Shiites are expected to marry members of their own community.