Ritual Elements
The ritual elements and laws for Shi'a differ little to their Sunni brothers.
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shi'a pray just three times a day |
|
They are traditionally:
-obligatory prayer (Salat or Namaz)
- fasting (Siyam)
- obligatory alms or religious tax (Zakat)
- the one fifth tax (Khums) which is not practiced by Sunnis
- pilgrimage (Hajj)
- religious war (jihad)
- enjoining other to do good, applies to all Muslims
- extorting other to desist from evil, applies to all Muslims
In practice, Shi'a have a different approach to prayer. Their call to prayer, their preparation and the number of times they pray daily differs to Sunni Muslims. Instead of praying five times a day at sunrise, noon, evening and night, Shi'a pray just three times a day, combining the noon and afternoon and the evening and night prayers. They also insist on praying on earth. They place their forehead on dust or the earth (preferably a block of baked mud from the earth of Karbala) during prostration, whereas the Sunnis prostrate onto their prayer mats.
Another difference is in the recitation of the sayings or traditions of the Prophet (hadith).The Shi'a prefer these narrated by 'Ali and Fatima to those related by other companions of the Prophet.
During the entire month of Ramadan, food, drink, smoking and sexual intercourse are forbidden from dawn to sunset. Shi'a fast marginally longer they wait until the sun has completely set before partaking of food and drink.
Another obligation is alms or a poor rate levied on crops, livestock, gold, silver and cash and is intended to assist the poor and needy. Sunni Muslims pay this tax to the state which is responsible for supervising its disbursement whereas Shi'a pay it to their religious leader (murja' at-taqlid) for disbursement.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Performing Hajj: Stoning the Jamarat |
|
A once in a lifetime, pilgrimage to Mecca is enjoined for those who can afford it. The details of this are much the same for Shi'a and Sunnis. Shi'a are highly recommended to complete their pilgrimage by travelling to Medina and visiting the tomb of the Prophet and of Fatima.
There are certain social observances where Sunni practice tends to differ from Shi'a. This is particularly true in the case of the fixed marriage, divorce and inheritance.
Shi'a Islam permits mut'a - fixed term temporary marriage -which is now banned by the Sunnis. Mut'a was originally permitted at the time of the Prophet and can be for any length of time, even for a matter of hours.
In general terms, divorce (Talaq) is more difficult under Shi'a law then for Sunnis. As distinct from Sunni law, Shi'a hold that the statement of the divorce formula must be made explicitly in the presence of two witnesses and is not allowable if made in the state of intoxication or rage. Both Shi'a and Sunni do agree that if a man divorces his wife three times, he cannot marry her again unless she is first married to another. Shi'a however do not allow the statement of divorce to be made on one occasion.
Under Sunni law, on the question of inheritance where there are males and females that are equally close to the deceased, their inheritance passes to the male in preference to the female. In Shi'a law the presence of male heirs does not exclude the female, although the share of the female is accordance with the Qur'anic rule, double that of the female.
Back: Shi'a and Sunnis
|
