What are some misconceptions about Shia Muslims?

As Muslims, we already have enough Islamophobia and religious misunderstandings to occupy our lives until the end of time. Therefore the misunderstandings that happen within our own communities is quite sad.

The centuries-old Shia-Sunni differences are the major obstacle to Muslim unity. These differences have always been fanned by the enemies of Islam to their benefit.

In a small attempt to clear out the misunderstandings and help foster a new environment of dialogue, here are some of the most common misunderstandings of Shia Muslims:

Shia Venerate Ali More Than the Prophet (SAWW)!

This misconception is very common and clearly shows a lack of knowledge. Shia Muslims have pride in loving the Prophet (SAWW), as well as loving His Family which he encouraged us to do.

No existent Shia group today believes that Ali bin Abi Taleb was superior in virtue to the Holy Prophet (SAWW). Ja’faris, like all Muslims, fully recognize the subordinate position of Imam Ali (AS).

In fact, believing that Ali or any of the Imams of Ahlulbayt had a higher status than the Prophet is considered Kufr (disbelief) in all of the Shia schools.

Shia Muslims have a different Quran

The misconception that Shia Muslims read a different Quran is completely false. There is only one Quran, and one of the miracles of our religion is the preservation of the original Quran recited by Prophet Mohammad (SAWW).

It is a sin to even say that the Quran can be changed or added to by Shia when it is protected by God. Simply walk into any Shia Muslim centre near you and check the copies of the holy Quran on the shelf.

Shias do not pay Zakat

Not true. They not only pay 2.5% left over from savings as Zakat, but also an additional 20% as “Khums” or general charity. However, they prefer to pay directly to the needy rather than government.

Shia Muslims don’t pray the required five prayers a day

This is one of the most common misconceptions, which is absolutely not true. The five daily prayers that all Muslims perform is a requirement, and is a devotional form of love and respect to God.

Shia Muslims pray the required five prayers a day. The only difference is the timings of prayer. We pray the five prayers but split them up into three times a day. “The reasoning for this is because the Quran only mentions three times of prayer during the day,” according to a Shia religious scholar.  

In addition, there are many Shia Muslims who actually pray five times of day similar to the Sunni school of thought.

Shia Muslims don’t rely on hadith or have unreliable hadith

To begin with, how to pray itself is completely based on hadith for both Sunni and Shia. If Shia Muslims did not rely on hadith, how would they be praying?

The misconception that all Shia hadith is unreliable must be understood as being simply untrue. Many of their hadiths are taken from Ahlul Al Bayt, with many famous Sunni scholars agreeing on the importance of the Quran and Ahlul Al Bayt.

Shia Muslims are all from Iran or support the Iranian government

Unfortunately this misconception comes almost unknowingly to many. Not all Shia Muslims are Iranian or support the Iranian government. Yes, the majority of Iranians are Shia. However the majority of Shia are not Iranian.

There are Shia in Saudi Arabia, in Lebanon, in Iraq, in Morocco, in Nigeria, in South Africa, in India, in Pakistan, in Afghanistan, in Turkey, in Malaysia. There are Shia Muslims in every single continent on earth.