The burning of heretics (like the Sabaites) by ‘Ali is a well established fact in reliable Sunni sources (ironically narrations with regards of Abu Bakr having ordered the burning of apostates are of much weaker authenticity and disputed, yet they are often used by Shiites) to tarnish the image of Abu Bakr).
In previous articles we have proven that it was actually ‘Ali who advised his friends, in particular the caliphs such as ‘Omar, to first behead and then burn non-combatant homosexuals. Abu Bakr as well was told by none other than ‘Ali to burn non-combatant homosexuals (ISIS burnt a combatant pilot …) because “killing alone means nothing to the Arabs”, Abu Bakr passed that advise to Khalid ibn Al-Walid, the irony …
Heck, ‘Ali was not just fond on burning heretics and sodomites, he even ordered the burning of lesbians as per Shia traditions.
So what we’ve got today? Well, we’ve got yet another shocker from Shia books, as usual not some randomly picked narration that apologetic cyber-online Shias can dismiss as weak, rather a strongly supported and endorsed narration by high ranked Shia scholars.
Shia Book:
Wasa’i Al-Shia by Al-Hurr Al-‘Amili, vol. 28, p. 339
Scan:
وسائل الشيعة (آل البيت) – الحر العاملي – ج ٢٨ – الصفحة ٣٣٩
9 – باب حكم من صلى للصنم (34903) 1 – محمد بن الحسن بإسناده عن الحسين بن سعيد، عن النضر، عن موسى بن بكر، عن الفضيل بن يسار، عن أبي عبد الله (عليه السلام) أن رجلين من المسلمين كانا بالكوفة، فأتى رجل أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) فشهد أنه رآهما يصليان للصنم، فقال له: ويحك لعله بعض من تشبه عليك، فأرسل رجلا فنظر إليهما وهما يصليان إلى الصنم، فأتى بهما فقال لهما: ارجعا، فأبيا فخد لهما في الأرض خدا فأجج نارا فطرحهما فيه[…] on the authority Abu ‘Abdullah, peace be upon him, who said that two Muslim men were in Kufa when someone informed the Chief of the Believers, ‘Ali, peace be upon him, that they (i.e. two men) were seen praying to idols. ‘Ali said: “Woe onto you! Perhaps it was someone that you mistook.” He (i.e. Ali) then sent someone to check on the two (i.e. the two men accused of worshipping idols), they were both seen worshipping idols (again) so they were brought to ‘Ali who told them to repent, but they refused. Thereat ‘Ali dug a pit, lit it up with fire, and threw them both inside.” [Wasa’i Al-Shia by Al-Hurr Al-‘Amili, vol. 28, p. 339 also in Tahthib Al-Ahkam by Tusi, vol. 10, p. 140]
Burning as a form of punishment in Medieval Europe – Burning at stake:
Expected Shia apologetic response:
“That must be weak! Holy Imam ‘Ali would never do such thing, that’ Abu Bakr, Khalid ibn Al-Walid and Isis style! Ya Ali!”
Response:
It’s anything but weak, it is in fact a throughout Shia history accepted incident, a narration approved and endorsed by major Shia authorities.
One of those authorities and extremists (and to this day by revered by Shiites around the world) is the Safavid (16th century) court and palace “scholar” Muhammad Baqir Majlisi, who based on the aforementioned narration concluded that any Shia ruler (Majlisi himself legitimised the Anti-Sunni Safavid rulers) can punish by burning if he deems it appropriate!
Another Safavid court servant, one of the highest Shia authority who ever walked the earth, is the so called “Al-Muhaqqiq Al-Muqaddas” (the holy researcher!), Ahmad Ardabili …
he also authenticated the aforementioned narration in his Majma’ Al-Fa’idah wAl-Burhan
Ardabili is not an isolated case, “Ayatollahs” such as Mohammad Reza Golpayegani also authenticated the narration of ‘Ali throwing idolaters into a ditch and burning them alive, scenes some would link to the likes of ISIS only (or to some Sahabah) …
The list of Shia scholars authenticating and endorsing the narration is long, it includes Al-Najafi the famous author of Jawahir Al-Kalam. In his Mawsu’ah Al-Fiqh Al-Islami (“The Encyclopedia of Islamic Juridprudence”!) he endorses the narration and argues in favour of it!
It makes you wonder: how can the Shia condemn burning as a form of punishment, accuse the Sahabah (especially the likes of Abu Bakr and Khalid) to have invented such “barbaric” measures when it is not just narrated in their own books, but also endorsed by the highest authority of their religion. The truth is, most Shiites don’t know their own book, in their ignorance they stir up an issue when they themselves are up to their necks in it …
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