Waqifite Shia
The Waqifite Shia were a
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Beliefs
The Waqifites believed in the Mahdi and the Occultation of Imam Musa al-Kazim. They believed Musa was alive, did not die, and would never die, that he was raised to heaven just as Jesus was raised, and that he was the awaited one who would fill the world with justice and fairness as it was filled with oppression and tyranny.[1] However, they later differed amongst themselves concerning Musa’s death and split into four sub-groups. Three of the sub-groups believed that Musa had died, while the other remaining subgroup persistently denied that Musa al-Kadhim had died.[2]
Reasons for the creation of the Waqifites’ beliefs
The most probable reason for the creation of the Waqifites’ beliefs is that when Musa al-Kadhim, was in the prison of the
The other (less probable) reason for the creation of the Waqifites’ beliefs is that Musa’s father,
Extinction of the sect
The Waqifites continued in their beliefs for a long time, but decreased in number with the passage of time, until the death of the theory and the extinction of those who believed in it. The extinction of the sect was especially hastened when Imam Ali ar-Ridha (who himself faced many difficulties in proving his own right to the Imamate, not only to his father's prominent followers, but also to his brother Ahmad)[7] confirmed the death of his father and said to the Waqifites:
“Allah’s evidence on His creation will be only through the Imam that is alive, and is well-known. Glory be to Allah. The
Messenger of Allahdied and Musa bin Ja’far did not die? Yes, by Allah he has died, and his wealth has been distributed and his slave girls have been married.”
He suspected those who claimed that his father did not die, of lying and said:
“They are disbelievers in what Allah the Exalted has revealed on Muhammad. If Allah exalted were to extend the lifespan of anyone due to the need of the creation to him, He would have extended the lifespan of the Messenger of Allah.”
Prominent Waqifite personalities
Some of the eminent figures and leaders of the Waqifites included: Muhammad ibn al-Hasan ibn Shammun,[8] Ali Ibn Abu Hamza, al-Husayn ibn Mahran, and Ibn Abu Sa‘ïd.[9] Another eminent person attributed to the Waqifites was Yazid ibn Khalifa al- Harithi, who was regarded as one of the companions of Ja'far al-Sadiq (who reportedly praised him).[10]
Books written by the Waqifites
'Ali ibn al-Hasan al-Ta'i al-Tatari (a companion of Musa al-Kadhim) named Musa al-Kadhim as the hidden Imam. In defense of his view he wrote Kitab al-Ghayba, which became the framework for the works of later Waqifite authors on the issue of al-Ghayba (the occultation). One such author was Al-Hasan ibn Muhammad ibn Suma`a (d. 263 A.H. / 877 C.E.), the Waqifite student of al-Ta'i al-Tatari. The information in the book he composed was later used by
See also
References
- Ikhtiyar Ma’rifah al-Rijal, by Al-Kashi, pg.379
Notes
- ^ The Waqifites' and Their Doctrines
- ^ The Imamite Activities during the Period of Imam al-Kazim (A.S.)
- ^ The Imamite Activities during the Period of Imam al-Kazim (A.S.)
- ^ The Waqifites' and Their Doctrines
- ^ The Imamite Activities during the Period of Imam al-Kazim (A.S.)
- ^ The Imamite Activities during the Period of Imam al-Kazim (A.S.)
- ^ The Imamite Activities during the Period of Imam al-Kazim (A.S.)
- ^ The Imamite Activities during the Period of Imam al-Kazim (A.S.)
- ^ The Waqifites' and Their Doctrines
- ^ The Narrators of Imam Jafar al-Sadiq(A.S.)
- ^ Books on the Question of the Ghayba