The Foundations of Faith: A Twelver Shia Introduction
A Twelver Shia educational framework presents five themes for reflecting on belief and responsibility.
أهل البيت
WORSHIP & ISLAMIC LEARNING
Faith & Ahl al-Bayt
Learning in the school of the Prophet’s household.
Ansar al-Husain approaches Islamic learning through a Twelver Shia perspective, with love and reverence for Prophet Muhammad and his household, peace and blessings be upon them. This is a place to begin learning about belief and the Ahl al-Bayt with respect for the wider Muslim community.
The foundations of belief
A traditional Twelver Shia introduction studies five themes: tawhid, the oneness of Allah; divine justice; prophethood; imamate; and resurrection. The textbook by Naser Makarem Shirazi linked below develops these subjects. This describes a particular educational framework, rather than a list used identically by every Muslim tradition.
The household of the Prophet
Ali, Fatimah, Hasan and Husayn, peace be upon them, are central to this introduction to the Ahl al-Bayt. Al-Islam.org’s dedicated collection provides authored books, articles and introductory materials for further study.
Belief, devotion and character
Studying the Ahl al-Bayt can lead naturally to the devotional language of al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya and to the remembrance of Imam Husayn. Read across these subjects with attention to their different forms: biography, history, supplication and scholarly explanation.
Continue with these resources
Open the original texts and services from the publishers below.
- Naser Makarem Shirazi: Lessons on the Fundamental Beliefs al-islam.org/lessons-about-allah-prophethood-and-prophet-islam-just...
- Al-Islam.org: Introducing the Ahlul Bayt al-islam.org/explore/introducing-ahlul-bayt
- Al-Islam.org: Imam Husayn al-islam.org/person/imam-husayn
- As-Sahifa al-Kamilah al-Sajjadiyya al-islam.org/sahifa-al-kamilah-al-sajjadiyya-imam-ali-zayn-al-abidin
Related study readings
All readings →Learning from the Household of the Prophet
Explore the Ahl al-Bayt through family, study, and a devotional collection attributed to Imam al-Sajjad.