Branches of Religion (Furū al-Dīn)

Once the roots of the religion is intact, the shia faith further demands Muslims to practice the religion and thus has the ten Ancillaries of the Faith (Furū al-Dīn).

1. Salāt (Prayer): A Muslim must perform five prayers a day, Shia Muslim combine prayers as per Quran. They offer Salat Fajr, Al-Salat Al Wusta (Combined Zuhar and As’r) and Salat Isha’a (Maghrib and Isha’a combined), Salat Fajr (Dawn Prayer) [Qur'an 24:58], Al-Salat Al-Wusta ( The Middle Prayer) [Qur'an 2:238][Qur'an 17:78], Salat Isha’a (Night Prayer)[Qur'an 24:58]. However they can offer prayers separately as well.
2. Sawm (Fast): A Muslim must fast during the month of Ramadhan.

O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be Allah-fearing. [Qur'an 2:183].

3.       Hajj (Pilgrimage): A Muslim must perform the pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.

4.       Zakāh (Charity): Paying the poor-tax. A Muslim must perform his or her duty in charity by giving to the poor. 2.5% of a Muslim's wealth every year should go to the poor. Shia Doubles this to 5%.Eight categories of individuals may receive the zakat:

a.       The needy (Muslims) - Fuqara'

b.      Extremely poor (Muslims) - Al-Masakin

c.       Those employed to collect - Aamileen

d.      Those whose hearts are to be won - Muallafatul Quloob

e.       To free the captives - Ar-Riqaab

f.       Those in debt (Muslims only) - Al Ghaarimeen

g.      In the way of Allah - Fi sabil Allah - aka jihad

h.      Wayfarer (Muslims)- Ibnus-Sabeel

5.      Khums (One-fifth): A Muslim must pay a tax of 20%, levied on untaxed, from annual profit. Khums is tax paid to the Imam and poor/deserving saadat (descendents of Ahlul Bayt)—Saham-e-Saadat. The Items eligible for khums are referred to as Ghanima. Imams of Ahlu’l-bayt) lists seven items regarded as ghanima:

a.       the profit or the surplus of the income.

b.      the legitimate wealth which is mixed with some illegitimate wealth.

c.       mines and minerals.

d.      the precious stones obtained from sea by diving.

e.       treasures.

f.       the land which an unbeliever buys from a Muslim.

g.      the spoils of war.

6.      Jihād (Struggle): Struggling to please Allah. (Struggle/Striving) – Struggling to earn the favor of Allah. The greater jihad, "al-Jihad al-Akbar", is the struggle against the evil within one's own soul. The lesser jihad, "al-Jihad al-Asghar", is where one fights on the battlefield in defence of his religion when attacked also know as Jihad bis-saif. There are many types of Jihad.

·         "A commitment to hard work" and "achieving one's goals in life"

·         "Struggling to achieve a noble cause"

·         "Promoting peace, harmony or cooperation, and assisting others"

·         "Living the principles of Islam"

7.       Amr-Bil-Ma'rūf (Enjoining what is good): Amr-bil-ma'rūf is a Qur'anic commandment to enjoin what is good. This is done through living by the rules of Allah from the Qur'an and hadith. The command to "enjoin what is good" is given in several Qur'anic verses. [3.104][7.157][9.71]

Commanding the good is of two types. One of them is obligatory, which is commanding religious duties (al-fara'id) when someone neglects them (dayya`aha), and the other is supererogatory (al-nafila), which is commanding supererogatory acts of devotion when someone omits to do them (tarakaha). As for prohibiting evil, all of it is obligatory because all evil is ethically wrong (qabih). It is necessary, if possible, to reach a point where evil (al-munkar) does not occur in the easiest of circumstances or lead to something worse, for the goal is for evil simply not to happen. And, if it is possible to reach the point where good (al-ma`ruf) occurs in the easiest of circumstances, then preferring the difficult circumstances would be impermissible. Similarly, Allah has said: “If two parties among the believers fall into a quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them transgresses beyond bounds against the other, then fight against the one who transgresses until he complies with the command of Allah; then, if he complies, make peace between them with justice, and be fair: for Allah loves those who act fairly” (Qur'an 49:9). Thus, prohibiting evil is obligatory only if the view does not prevail that prohibiting a particular evil would lead to an increase in disobedience, and if a preference for what was harmful were not predominant. If such a view does prevail, prohibiting evil would not be obligatory, and avoiding it would be more appropriate.

8.       Nahi-Anil-Munkar (Forbid what is evil): Nahi-anil-munkar is a Qur'anic commandment to "forbid what is evil". This can be done by refraining from the sins mentioned by Allah in the Qur'an and the sins which the Prophet Muhammad stated in hadith. Al-munkar means "the rejected". The following verses from the Qur'an are said to command the believers to forbid what is evil: [3.104][7.157][9.71]

9.       Tawalla (To love the Ahl al-Bayt and their followers ): Loving the Ahlu l-Bayt and their followers.

10.   Tabarra (To disassociate from the enemies of the Ahl al-Bayt): Dissociating oneself from the enemies of the Ahlu l-Bayt.

To believe in Allah, and in the hereafter, and in Malaika (angels or Allah’s forces), and in the Book, and the Prophets." Quran (2:177)

Apart from this Shia muslims also believe in Holy Books, Angels, Fate(Qadr) and After life however they have not included them in their Aqeedah. Sidrat al-Muntaha, Seven Heavens, Jannah (heaven) and the Jahannam (hell) also form the eternal part of Shia belief

We will discuss each of these in details thru further posts.