Murjea – In the light of Shia traditions

It is written in the book ‘Maqalaat e Tareekhi (Daftar e Dahum)’ that:

In the traditions narrated from the Shiite Imams, it is made evident that the term Murjea has been used for Ahl e Sunnat and mostly for the ones holding enmity against Ali (a.s.) and naturally, the Holy Progeny (a.s.).

In a tradition, it has been narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that he said:

 “O God! Curse the Murjea as they are our enemies in this world and the Hereafter”.

In another tradition, Imam Sadiq (a.s.) has cursed Qadriyya and Khawarij once and the Murjea twice. The narrator asks for the reason behind this act. He answers:

“As per their belief, our murderers are Momin, therefore, they will be responsible for our bloodshed till the day of Judgment”.[1]

In another tradition, Ishaq bin Hamid (the writer) says: In Qom, there was a textile trader who followed the Shia sect and had a partner who was Murjea. An expensive cloth came into their possession. The Shia said: I will take this for my Imam. Murjea said: I do not recognize your Imam but do whatever you wish to do with this cloth. When I gave the cloth in the hands of the Imam (a.s.), he teared the cloth into two halves and gave back the other half to me and said: I do not require the share of a Murjea.[2]

          The tradition narrated from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) that he said: ‘’Two sects from my nation will not inherit anything from Islam, one is Murjea and the other is Qadriyyah’’, is also associated to Imam Ali Ibn e Musa Ar Reza (a.s.) and it is mentioned that he narrated this tradition from the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).[3]

          Likewise, it is narrated from Imam Baqir (a.s.) that he said:

“The similarity of the Jews with Murjea and the Qadriyya with Christians is the same as the similarity of a night with another night and a day with another day”.[4]

It has arrived in another tradition that Abu Baseer said: Imam Sadiq (a.s.) questioned me about the people of Basrah.

I replied: “They are divided into Murjea, Qadriyyah and Haroori”.

Imam said:

لعن اللّٰہ تلک الملل الکافرة المشرکة التی لا تعبد اللّٰہ علی شئ

“May Allah’s curse be upon these infidel nations who do not worship Allah at all”.[5]

          Moreover, Imam Baqir (A.S) said: “I disassociate myself from five groups: Murjea, Khawarij, Qadriyya, Syrians (Bani Umayyah) and Nasibi.” [6]

          These traditions clearly imply that most of the instances in which traditions are narrated from Imams regarding the Murjea, have emphasized on their Nasibi attribute. Although it is possible that the definition of faith in the eye of Murjea would have also been indicated in a few narrations.

          In another tradition, it is narrated from Imam Sadiq (A.S) that he said:

Teach your children our Hadith from the initial stage before Murjea precede you in this act. [7]

          Another incident narrated by Ziya ud Deen Suhrawardi is as follows:

          It has been narrated that Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) got indulged in a debate with a Murje’i in the presence of Jafar Mansoor. Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) said in the debate: ‘A Murje’i was brought before the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), his holiness commanded the people to kill the Murje’i.’ That person interrupted by saying: ‘This sect and ideology did not exist at the time of the Holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.).’ Jafar e Sadiq (a.s.) said: From where did you bring up something that did not exist at the time of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H)?[8]

          At the end of the third century, Saad bin Abdullah Ash’ari placed Murjea exactly opposite to the Shias as per the historical point of view, and this was the result of being influenced by the term Murjea with the meaning that was common between the Shias.

He writes: At the time of the assassination of Imam Ali (A.S), some of his followers and the group which was with Talha, Zubair and Ayesha, joined hands together to form a single group and assisted Mu’awiyah, apart from the small group of the Shias of Ali (A.S) and those who believed in his Imamate after the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H). Those people (who assisted Mu’awiyah) were of the Hashooye and the followers of the rulers and the supporters of those who capitalized forcefully. They accepted Mu’awiyah and all of them were named Murjea[9].[10]