The word shi'a is taken from "mushaya'a" which means "following". The holy Qur'an called the followers of the Apostle Nuh (P.b.u.h) as "shi'a", whereas, Allah the Almighty said: {And most surly Ibrahim followed his way}[11]. And the Prophet (P.b.u.h) called the followers of Ameerul Mu'mineen Ali (P.b.u.h) as shi'a, according to the historians and narrators from both sides Sunni and shi'a who mentioned that in their books. The following are some of the narrations that show the position of Ameerul Mu'mineen (P.b.u.h) and his followers (may God support them), and all of these traditions are transmitted from the Prophet (P.b.u.h):

1."Ali and his shi'a are the winners on the Day of Resurrection"[12].

The meaning of this narration is that Ali has followers and they are called "shi'a", and they are the saved group because they are the winners on the Day of Resurrection.

2."There will be after me a seduction, then you should keep Ali's side because he is the first one who is going to meet me and shake hands with me on the Day of Resurrection, and he is my companion in the highest sky, and he is the one who distinguishes between the right and the wrong " [13]

The meaning of this narration is that, there will be after the Apostle a big seduction, and the only way to be saved is to keep Ali's side (P.b.u.h), because he moves on the same way of the Prophet (P.b.u.h).

3."There will be dispute and discord among people, then the right will be with this – he (P.b.u.h) means Ali (P.b.u.h) – and his followers"[14].

And the meaning of this narration is that, Ali (P.b.u.h), Ameerul Mu'mineen is the safety from disagreement, so you should follow him, since the right with him.

4."Ali is with right, and the right is with Ali"[15].

There is right and wrong, so whoever wants the right he should follow Ali Bin Abi Taleb(P.b.u.h), since he is the right, and he always keeps with right, so whoever keeps with him, he is safe, and whoever parts with him, he will go astray, and he will fall down.

Al Suiti says in his explanation, the meaning of His saying: {those are the best of men}[16] , he says: "Iben Asaker has reported from Jabber bin Abdullah, he said: We were sitting around the Prophet (P.b.u.h), when Ali came, so the Prophet (P.b.u.h) said: I swear by the God Who grasps my soul, this (man) and his followers are the winners on the Day of Resurrection. And said: Iben Mardawayh has reported from Ali, He said: The Prophet of God (P.b.u.h) has told me: Haven't you heard the saying of Allah: {(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men}; My date with you and your followers is the fountain, when people come to be questioned, and you will be call "al Ghur al Muhajaleen "".

Ibnul Atheer also reported: "in the narration of Ali (P.b.u.h), you will come to Allah , and you are happy and satisfied, and your enemy will come to Allah, and they are angry and chained, then he put his hands close to his neck to show them the way of chaining "[17].

Al Shablanchi reported from Ibin Abbas his saying: "When the following verse was revealed {(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men} the Prophet (P.b.u.h) told Ali: You and your shi'a will com on the Day of Resurrection, and you are satisfied and happy, while your enemies will come and they are chained and angry".

Ibin Hajjar also reported that the Prophet (P.b.u.h) has used such term and said: "the eleventh verse is His saying: {(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of men}. Al Hafidh Jamaluddin Al Zarandi transmitted from Ibin Abbass: When this verse was revealed, the Prophet (P.b.u.h) told Ali (P.b.u.h): You and your shi'a will come on the Day of Resurrection happy and satisfied, while your enemy will come and they are chained and angry"[18].

So, it becomes clear that: (Shi'ism is not a novelty group or sect, but it is the essence of the soul of the real Islam, and the Prophet himself has named it and called for it, because it represents the safety of afflictions, and the guidance away from the errors, and the right from wrong, and the rubric from the heresy, and it represents the right principle and method of Islam, and this the meaning of "Shi'ism " and its fact).

As for "Shi'a" (may God bless them), they are the real Muslims who followed Ameerul Mu'mineen Ali bin Abi Talib (P.b.u.h), and his sons, the infallible Imams (P.b.u.h) after the Prophet (P.b.u.h).

Shi'a are also called "Imameya", because they believe in and follow Imam Ameerul Mu'mineen Ali (P.b.u.h) and his sons, Imam Hassan (P.b.u.h), and Imam Hussein (P.b.u.h), and the nine sons of the progeny of Imam Hussein (P.b.u.h).

Shi'a are also called "Ja'fariya" because follow the jurisprudence of Imam Jaffar bin Muhammad Al Sadeq (P.b.u.h), the sixth Imam of Ahlul Bayt (P.b.u.h), who succeeded to spread the Islamic knowledge more than other Imams who didn’t have the same chance, so that Shi'a are called (the Ja'faries) since they took from him (P.b.u.h) more than they took from the other Imams.

Shi'a are also called (Ethna Ashariya) – the twelfth – because they believe in the Imamate of the Twelve Imams (P.b.u.h), as the Prophet (P.b.u.h) confirmed that when a Jewish named "Al A'atal" said: "O you Mohammad! I want to ask you about some questions that always puzzled me, so if you could answer them, I will turn to Islam.

The Prophet (P.b.u.h) said: O Aba Omara ask me! So he asked the Prophet about all of his questions, and the Prophet answered them all, then he said: That’s right! Now tell me, who is your guardian? Since each prophet should have a guardian, and the guardian of our prophet Musa bin Omran (P.b.u.h) made a will to Youshi' bin Noon."   

The Prophet (P.b.u.h) said: My guardian is Ali bin Abi Talib, then my grandsons Hassan and Hussein, then the nine Imams from Hussein's progeny.

Then the Jewish said: O Mohammad! Name them for me.

The Prophet said: If Hussein died, then it comes his son Ali, if he died, then comes his sons Mohammad, if he died, then comes his sons Ja'far, if he died, then comes his son Musa, if he died then comes his son Ali, if he died then comes his son Mohammad, if he died, then comes his son Ali, if he died then comes his son Hassan, if he died then comes his son Mohammad Al Mehdi (the Hujjah),  they are twelve Imams after him , and they are the twelve Imams of Shi'ism . [19]

What is mentioned above shows: ( The followers of Ahlul Bayt , the Shi'a, the Ja'faries, the twelfth, are the same and the represent the soul and the base of Islam which Allah the Great and Almighty wanted, and told His servants to follow the Apostle of Allah, Mohammad (P.b.u.h).

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[11]  Al Saffat: 83.
[12]  Tarikh Damascus for Ibn Asaker: 2/408.
[13]  The same previous reference: 42/45.
[14]  Kanzul Ummal: 6/157.
[15]  Tarikhul Baghdadi:14/321.
[16]  Al Bayyenah: 7.
[17]  Jalaluddin Ass iuti / Addurul Manthur fitafsir Belmathur 6/379.
[18]  Ibnul Atheer/ Al Nehaya fi Ghareebul Hadith wal Athar 4/106 "chapter Qaf and Mim "
[19]  Al Shablanji \ Noorul Absar Fi Manqib Al Beyt Al Nabi Al Mukhtar: Page 80.