Khalafiyya Shia

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The Khalafiyya Shia (named for its founder Khalaf ibn Abd al-Samad) were a subsect of the

Zaidi branch of Shia Islam
.

Beliefs

The Khalafiyya Shia had the following beliefs:

  • They believed that the are as follows (in chronological order):
  • They believed the Imam’s knowledge comes to him by inspiration, not by acquisition.
  • They believed the Imam understood all languages.
  • They believed that Khalaf ibn Abd al-Samad left behind a book which he composed in letters of an alphabet unknown to anyone other than his successor Imams and that these Imams alone would be able to explain his book.
  • They believed in a doctrine of Tawhid (Oneness of God) which denies that a person can describe or characterize God in any way. For example:
    • a person cannot say that God is knowing, or that God is not knowing.
    • a person cannot say that God is powerful, or that God is not powerful.
    • a person cannot say that God is a thing, or that God is not a thing.
  • They also believed in a devotion to fives. For example (according to them):
    • 5 primary angels; Mikha’il (the chief angel of the Khalafiyya), Jibra’il, Izra’il, Mika’il and Israfil
    • 5 chosen creatures on Earth;
    • 5 fingers
    • 5 pillars of Islam; Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, Sawm and Hajj
    • 5 senses; hearing, sight, touch, smell, and taste
    • 5 prayer times;
      Isha'a
      (Night prayer)
    • 5 books of scripture; the Suhuf Ibrahim (commonly the Scrolls of Abraham), the Tawrat (Torah), the Zabur (commonly the Psalms), the Injil (commonly the Gospel), and the Qur'an
    • 5 things leading to salvation
    • 5 special months of the year;
      Dhu al-Hijjah

See also

References

Bibliography