1. ISLAMIC IDENTITY SHI’A VERSION
Minority within an American Majority 1

2. Baby-brain-scaled

4. Migration of Brain Cells

5. Brain Functions

6. Stages of Development of Identity
A Baby within a few months of birth identifies with mother and father, brothers and sisters, and interacts in a progressive manner with his limited environment.
As he grows up:
He differentiates in a sophisticated way:
He sees differences in:
Color
Language
Religion
Behavior and Customs

7. Consequences of Identity
When identity is affirmative, it can be an Incentive to:
flourish and
innovate
When identity is negative, it can be an Incentive to:
Lower self-esteem and
even destroy self-confidence

8. Identity in America Born in America and raised by immigrant parents
Middle Eastern
Arabic Speaking
Urdu or Farsi speaking
African languages, Jewish, or other identities
Upon Immigrating to America, will be facing:
Cultural clashes
Nationality dilemma
Language barrier
Education seeking

9. Religious Identity A most powerful identity factor is Religion.
If it is Islamic:
Belief
Language Barrier
Behavior modes
Color
Mode of dress
The society looking at you to how to consider you

10. Holding on to Identity, the child faces:
Islamicly:
Sunni
Shi’a
Culturally:
Habits, ethics, and Morality
Nationality:
Language
Education

11. Two Branches of Islam

12. Islamic Identity Know your Islamic Affiliation: Shi’a or Sunni
Educate yourself about your conviction
Master the English to express yourself well
Express yourself with conviction and vigor
Talk with confidence and with pride

13. Sunni Schools of Thought:
At first there were many Schools of Thought (more than 20 schools).
Through time only four schools persisted:
Hanafi
Maaliki
Shafi‘i
Hanbali

14. Statistics as of 1996: SHI’A ………………………………… 282 Millions SUNNI
Hanafi …………….………………… 380 Millions
Maaliki …………………………….…305 Millions
Shafi’i ……………………………...…190 Millions
Hanbali ………………………………. 52 Millions

15. Two Branches of Islam

16. Similarities: Sunni-Shi’a
Faith
Doctrine
Basics of Rituals
Ethical Values
Eschatology

17. Dissimilarities: Sunni-Shi’a
Political: Khilaafah
Expression of Rituals: Technique
Ahlul Bayt (Family of the Prophet)
Evolution of Heritage: Shi’a versus Sunni
Source References (Tafseer, Hadith, etc.)

18. About Ahlul Bayt
Ahlul Bayt carried out the Teaching of Islam after the Prophet as follows:
Period Span: 329 Years
Twelve Generations
The best available means to teach in absence of media
Information authentic source of Islam
Suffered greatly at the hands of rulers
300 narrators of Sihah Sittah were student of Al-Saadiq

19. The Golden Chain of Narration
Thousands of Hadiths were narrated and quoted by Ahlul Bayt
Each Imam said,
"My Hadith is the Hadith of my father, and his is the Hadith of his father, up to Ali, who directly narrated the Hadith from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh)." 
This is called the Golden Chain of Narration. السلسه الذهبيه
These Hadiths were of immense importance, since they corrected the inaccuracies and set right the contaminations which had crept into this science.   

20. The Golden Chain of Narration

21. The Source of Hadith Narration

22. Source of Imam's Knowledge
The Imam’s knowledge comes by way of:
the Corpus of Knowledge الجامعه
Al-Muhad'dith النقر بالأَسماع (المحدِّث)
and the Un-Erring Inspiration النكت بالقلوب

23. Corpus of Knowledge consists of the following:
Quran in chorological order
Tafseer (Mus’haf Fatima)
Hadith (Saheefa of Ali)
Ah’kaam
Al-Jafr
White Jafr: Prophets and early times
Red Jafr: Rules of war in Islam

24. Shi’a Heritage Ghadeer Khum Ashuraa Ramadhan Du’aas (Supplications)
Celebration of Birthdays of the Prophet and the 12 Imams
Visitations of the Shrines (Ziyarah)
Reading special Du’aas (Supplications) at different occasions.

25. Shi’a Books of Hadith

26. Iman (Belief): Shi’a Tawhid (Allah’s Oneness and His Attributes)
Al-Adl (Justice of God)
Nubu'wah (Prophethood):
The Revealed Books (Torah and Bible)
The Angels
Qadr: Being Guided yet Free to Choose
Imamah
Ma’ad (The Hereafter)

27. Ibadat (Rituals): Shi’a
Salat:
(Prayer)
Zakat:
(Poor-due)
Saum:
(Fasting)
Haj:
(Pilgrimage)
Khums:
(The Fifth)
Jihad:
Major: Refining the Self
Lesser: In Defense of Islam
Al Amru Bil Ma'ruf
(Enjoining to what is Good)
Al Nahiyu Unn Al Munkar
(Forbidding what is Evil)

28. Shi’a Heritage Identify with: Follow the Edicts of their chosen Marji’
Teachings of Ahlul Bayt
The 4 Canonical Hadith Books of Shi’a
Nahjul Balaaghah
Al-Saheefa Al-Sajjadiya
Follow the Edicts of their chosen Marji’

29. Ghadeer Khum: Wilaayah to Ali Celebration

31. Al-Baaqir Describes his devotees
"By Allah our Shi'a is: he who obeys Allah, is pious, and upright. He
obeys Allah, is pious, and upright.
Our Shi'a are recognized for their modesty, humility, excessive worship, frequent offering of Salat, observance of fast, and they honor their parents.
Our Shi'a care for neighbors, the disadvantaged, the needy, the indebted, and the orphans,
Our Shi'a always speak the truth, recite the Holy Quran, hold their tongue against speaking ill of others, and
Our Shi'a are trustworthy in all matters of social and spiritual relationship.
 والله ما شيعتنا إلاّ من إتقى الله وأطاعه  
وما كانوا يُعرَفون إلاّ بالتواضع والتخشع وأداء ألأمانة وكثرةِ ذِكر الله
والصوم والصلاة
والبرِّ بالوالدين وتعهُّد الجيران منَ الفقراء وذوي المَسْكنةِ والغارمين والأيتام وصِدق الحديث وتلاوة القرآن
وكفِّ الألسن عن الناس إلا من خير

32. Al-Saadiq and the Silent Da’wa
"I advise you to be heedful of Allah, to render the trust to those who had trusted you with it, to treat well those in your company, and be the ones who will do the Silent Da'wa [Callers] for us."
يقول لأصحابه:
أُوصيكم بتقوى الله وأداء الأمانة لمن ائتمنكم وحُسن الصُّحبة لمن صحبتموه وأن تكونوا لنا دعاةً صامتين ……..

33. Al-Kadhim advises
Grant yourself a portion of the Dunya [the present world] by allowing it its desires from the lawful things and from what does not breach honor, nor of extravagance.  Make use of it to help you fulfill your Islamic duties, for it is reported that:  “He is not one of us who abandons his Dunya [the present world] for the sake of the next world [Deen], nor who abandons his Deen [Islam] for his Dunya.”
 إجعلوا لأنفسكم حظاً من الدنيا بإعطائها ما تشتهي من الحلال، وما لا يثلم المروءه وما لا سِرْفَ فيه، واستعينوا بذلك على أُمور الدين، فإنه روي:  ليس منا من ترك دنياه لدينه، أو ترك دينه لدنياه

34. Select sayings of Al-Askari
The heart of the fool is in his mouth, while the mouth of the wise is in his heart, [meaning: A foolish person speaks without weighing what he wants to say, while a wise man thinks deeply before he says].
The love of a pious man for another pious person is a reward for the pious person;  while the love by an impious man for the pious one is distinction for the pious person.  But, the spite of the pious person toward the impious ones is a disgrace on the impious ones.

35. Holding on Cultural Identity
Hold on to your ways but be discerning
Make effort to befriend people of your nationality
Be friendly to Americans
Explain your ways with pride to Americans
Frequent and consistent visits to Islamic Centers

36. Holding on Nationalistic Identity
Speak your language with parents
Teach children Arabic as well as your own language
Celebrate your usual national holidays
Attend meetings catering to your national aspirations

37. Unique opportunity in America
The US is your host country that uniquely gives freedom of expression and work opportunity
As its guest you ought to:
respect the ways fit for the Americans, but
keep your ways intact and sound
Be innovative and aggressive in pursuit of your goals and aims

38. Unique opportunity in America
Get involved in the American Process
Seek Professions:
Construction
Business
Government
Political
Administrative
Investments
The Myriad others available
Encourage your children to Pursue Professions of Potential Value to America as well as Islamic Society

39. Hadith of Prophet Muhammad:

40. Both Shi’a and Sunni believe

41. Finally Let us Read Surah al-Asr Together

42. Thank you and May God Bless you.
Be in Allah’s Care
Thank you and May God Bless you.
Dr. A.S. Hashim