The Question Asked to Shaykh. Bin Bazz :
Q : We are in urgent need of information about the differences between the Ahl-ul-Sunnah (adherents to the Sunnah) and Shiites. We hope that you can explain something about their beliefs? May Allah enlighten us all!
A : Shiites have many sects. It is not easy to mention them in detail in a short time. In brief, some of them are Kafirs (disbelievers) who worship `Aly and call upon him, and they worship Fatimah, Al-Husayn and others. Some of them claim that Jibril (peace be upon him) betrayed the trust and that Prophethood belonged to `Aly not to Muhammad. There are also others among them, such as Al-Imamiyyah , i.e. Al-Rafidah Al-Ithna `Ashriyyah (a Shiitic group) who worship `Aly and say that their Imams are better than the angels and Prophets. There are many groups among them; some are Kafirs (disbelievers) and some are not Kafirs (disbelievers). The moderate among them are those who believe that `Aly was better than the three (Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman). Those who say this are not Kafirs (disbeliever) but in error, because `Aly was the fourth, and Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq, ‘Umar and `Uthman were better than him. If a person prefers him over them then he is mistaken and is going against the consensus of the Companions, but he is not a Kafir (disbeliever). The Shiites are of different levels and types. Those wishing to know more about this may refer to the books of the scholars, such as Al-Khutut Al-`Aridah by
(Part No. 28; Page No. 258)