If Islam is the most misunderstood religion of all world faiths, then Shiasm holds the same position within Islam. Shias have commonly been referred to as Rafidhi's (meaning Dissenters) by other Muslim sects. While it is true that there are fundamental differences between the major factions of Shia and Sunni, these are not so great as to warrant a split in basic beliefs.
Islam is not a faith that was created by or revealed to Muhammad (pbuh*) alone. The history of Islam begins with the creation of the first man and the first Prophet of God. The Message that began with Adam continued through the ages, passing from capable hand to capable hand until it reached its final form in those of Muhammad (pbuh) - the Seal of Prophethood. It was with this final Blessed Messenger that Islam was revealed in its perfect entirety and Laws were laid down, never to change again to the end of Time.
The basic tenets of Islamic Faith
A Muslim can only be called so if he submits sincerely to the fact that there is only One God and that Muhammad is His final Messenger to mankind. This verbal declaration is the foundation of Islam.
The Oneness of God and the concept of Unity are deep philosophical subjects in Islam. In their most basic form, they require a Muslim to accept that God is unique unto Himself, that He is limitless and without form and that He has no partner or family. God is thus the Sustainer (Rab) of all creation and all things, animate or inanimate, stem from Him.
The Holy Book of Islam - Al-Qur'an - is revered by all Muslims alike. Divided into 114 chapters of varying length, it addresses issues varying from creation to law, history to philosophy and science to art. Its words remain the same ones revealed to Muhammad (pbuh). It is an accepted fact that there has been no change in the verses of the Qur'an in the fourteen centuries since its revelation and anyone who would attempt to add or remove even a letter from the accepted order would be considered a non-Believer. Muslims do not refute the divine deliverance of the Tawrat (Torah) to Moses, the Zabur (Psalms) to David and the Injeel (Bible) to Jesus. They do, however, believe that these divine tomes were replaced by one book, which contained all the necessary information from them all - the Qur'an.
