Shi'a refers to the lovers of 'Ali, and came about in 37 Hijri
The highly respected Sunni scholar Al Muhaddith Shah 'Abd al-'Aziz Dehlavi in his discussion of Hadeeth relating to Ali and his Shi'a writes:
"The title Shi'a was first given to those Muhajireen and Ansar who gave allegiance (bay'ah) to Ali (may Allah enlighten his face). They were his steadfast faithful followers during his (Ali's) caliphate. They remained close to him, they always fought his enemies, and kept on following Ali's commands and prohibitions. The true Shi'a are these who came in 37 Hijri"
Tuhfa Ithna Ashari (Urdu) page 27, published in Karachi
Note: 37 Hijri -the year Imam Ali (as) fought Mu'awiya at Sifeen.
The reference proves that the term 'Ahl 'ul Sunnah wa al Jamaah' was conceived later, after 37 Hijri. Although we believe that the title Shi'a goes back before this date, as this book is a 'revered anti Shi'a masterpiece', we will gladly accept this definition. Dehlavi states that the first Shi'a were the Muhajirun and Ansar, in other words they were the Prophet (s)'s Sahaba who sided with Ali (as) against Mu'awiya.
Now let us break down that definition in to point form. The Shi'a were those who:
Pledged their allegiance to Ali (as)
Remained close to him
Followed his orders
Fought his enemies
Alhamdullillah that is exactly the same definition of the Shi'a today. All the above attributes of the Shi'a then, are still inherent in the Shi'a today. When the Sahaba were Shi'a then this Nasibi author should have been ashamed for proving Shi'as misguided Kaafirs through Verses. By doing this, this Nasibi author has attacked the Sahaba he venerates; after all if the term Shi'a from Qur'an refers to negative terms such as 'adherents of Pharaoh, rebels, polytheists and Hell Bound', did the Shi'a Sahaba possess all of these attributes? Clearly an author from a site that professes undying love for the Sahaba should have some shame. The Nasibi has unwittingly heaped Kufr Fatwas on thousands of Prophetic companions!
