Reincarnation and Alawis.

[al-Thiqa]

As-salāmu ʿalaykum

What is the Alawi opinion about Reincarnation? I've seen some claiming it's not a mainstream view yet some also claim it is a core of their faith. I would like to get an answer with proof. Thanks for the all answers from now on.

[Huss Mourad]

8 hours ago, al-Thiqa said:

As-salāmu ʿalaykum

What is the Alawi opinion about Reincarnation? I've seen some claiming it's not a mainstream view yet some also claim it is a core of their faith. I would like to get an answer with proof. Thanks for the all answers from now on.

Salamun Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatu.

Alawites believe that rebirth is true (reincarnation). Alawis believe that the rebirth of humans is one of the highest of manifestations of divine justice on Earth. They consider it unfair that a soul is granted more than one life to do as it pleases ahead of Allah ((سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى))'s judgement. They basically say that Allah ((سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى))'s wisdom dictates a soul experiences more than one life ahead of judgement, so they won't have any excuses when the Akhirah is here.

They also think that it is not possible for a body to go to the hereafter just from one life, but instead think that reincarnation occurs thousands of times. The main 'aim' of this is so the Alawites can be prepared for God and the fulfilment they must complete in life. 

That's just the basic info, more information is at this website. https://raseef22.net/article/1080755-reincarnation-for-alawites-and-the-newborns-first-cry

Taqabbal Allah Wa Minaw Minkon.

[علوي]

Although some Alawis definitely believe in reincarnation, I can tell you for certain that it's not a core of their faith. 

All Alawis I know (online and in real life) believe in the exact same principles as we do; Tawheed, Adeelah, Nubuwwah, Imamah, Qiyamah. The only difference may be that they believe in reincarnation before Qiyamah. (I've had an Alawi explain this to me btw). (They believe that) when we are born, we are to follow the Sharia and strive to be the best we can be (i.e. by following the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم), Amir al-Mumineen (عليه السلام), etc.). Then when we die, if we were not perfect, we would not enter heaven. Rather, if we were good, we would be reborn as an Alawi, and if not, we would be, for example, a Sunni, Christian, Jew, etc. The rebirth also extends to animals as well. When we finally reach perfection in our existence, we ascend to heaven to join the Ahlulbayt (A). 

In this video, this concept is (more or less) explained. The speaker (Sheikh Assad Ali) says that when we die, we either become like Prophet Yunus (عليه السلام) in the whale (i.e. what I was explaining before with rebirth) or becoming like the Prophet Mohammad (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) on Buraq and ascend to heaven.

Then, the editor quotes a verse from the Quran. 

نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ عَلَىٰ أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

We have ordained death among you, and We are not to be outmaneuvered from replacing you with your likes and recreating you in [a realm] you do not know. [56:60-61]

There are other Muslims (i.e. Sufis) who also believe that this verse points to reincarnation:

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Allah can never ever be prevented from"changing your forms;"your present human form. You may be born again blind, retarded, sickly, rich, poor, evil, mad, dumb, intelligent, ugly, or idiotic. Allah can never ever be obstructed from"creating you again"; giving you birth again. You may be born a Jew, Japanese, Hindu, aborigine, Muslim, black, prostitute, or king, Allah can never ever be averted from transforming you again"In forms that ye know not.”You may be created again as an insect, ape, tree, chicken, or dog.

http://www.adishakti.org/_/rebirth_surah_56.60_al_waqi'ah.htm

Furthermore, a Sufi also explains this concept on Facebook:

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The Qur'an explains that Allah takes back all souls, whether the owner dies in sleep or while awake. Those who have sinned are marked for Death and kept by HIM, to be given the appropriate punishments. The rest, who have committed only minor sins, are sent back for an appointed time. They are neither sent to heaven or hell. The Kingdom of Heaven is only inhabited by pure souls who have completely rid themselves of all ignorance. The vast majority of humans are far from being spiritually purified to enter the Promised Paradise. Their souls are again sent back to redeem themselves and remove all lingering ignorance and impurities. This cycle goes on and on until their souls get purified enough to enter His Kingdom.

https://www.facebook.com/hinduismislam/photos/442441982463932

Now, we also must not generalise. Like I said, most Alawis that I know believe in the exact same Islam that we do. It is hard to believe what we read online about Alawis since there is so much propaganda against them. For example, a Harvard paper claims about the Alawi faith:

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This complex faith includes an emphasis on a trinity (Muhammad, his nephew and eventual successor Ali, and Salman al-Farisi, an early Persian convert to Islam), a belief in reincarnation, and the celebration of a “mass” involving wine and bread. Alawis have their own unique religious texts, and recognize numerous Muslim, Christian, and Persian holidays.

https://rpl.hds.harvard.edu/faq/alawism

This Reuters article also claims the same thing:

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They were also highly secretive, initiating only a minority of believers into their core dogma, including reincarnation and a divine Trinity, and into rituals including a rite of drinking consecrated wine similar to a Christian Mass.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-alawites-sect-idUSTRE8110Q720120202

This is false. Even the most extreme Alawis don't have Christian masses, nor believe in a trinity, and they definitely don't celebrate Christmas. As for the reincarnation though, that's more or less true for only some Alawis. 

I think the only way to learn about Alawis is by speaking to an Alawi. In this video, Brother Khoder Samia speaks about the false claims spread about Alawis. He explains that Alawi Islam is the same as mainstream Shia Islam.

There are more false claims. Some claim that Alawis don't pray or fast. (Both not true). Some claim they have a different Quran. (Their beliefs on the Quran is the same as the mainstream Shia belief). They have Islamic funerals. They have the kateb ktab for weddings. They say the two Shahadas. But, like all sects of Islam, there are a few of them who don't adhere to all rules of the Sharia to the t, as they say. Everyone will be returned to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) and judged justly by Him.

May Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَ تَعَالَى) guide us all.

[al-Thiqa]

JazakAllahu khayran for your reply akhi.

 

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This is false. Even the most extreme Alawis don't have Christian masses, nor believe in a trinity, and they definitely don't celebrate Christmas.

I personally think that this is because of their alleged beliefs were mostly explained by their opponents, which they actually used as arguments against them and since most Alawi hid their beliefs due to fear of persecution this has lead to using works by their opponents as a source of their beliefs.

[علوي]

On 11/15/2022 at 7:49 AM, علوي said:

نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ عَلَىٰ أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

We have ordained death among you, and We are not to be outmaneuvered from replacing you with your likes and recreating you in [a realm] you do not know. [56:60-61]

There are many other verses of the Quran that may point to reincarnation.

1. 
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنْتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
How can you be unfaithful to Allah, [seeing that] you were lifeless and He gave you life, then He will make you die and then bring you to life, and then you will be brought back to Him? [2:28]

2. 
وَقَالُوا أَإِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا قُلْ كُونُوا حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا أَوْ خَلْقًا مِمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ ۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَنْ يُعِيدُنَا ۖ قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ فَسَيُنْغِضُونَ إِلَيْكَ رُءُوسَهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هُوَ ۖ قُلْ عَسَىٰ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَرِيبًا
They say, ‘What, when we have become bones and dust, shall we really be raised in a new creation?’ Say, ‘[That is bound to happen] even if you should become stones, or iron, or a creature more fantastic to your minds!’ They will say, ‘Who will bring us back?’ Say, ‘He who originated you the first time.’ They will nod their heads at you, and say, ‘When will that be?’ Say, ‘Maybe it is near! [17:49-51]

3. 
وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ الَّذِينَ اعْتَدَوْا مِنْكُمْ فِي السَّبْتِ فَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ فَجَعَلْنَاهَا نَكَالًا لِمَا بَيْنَ يَدَيْهَا وَمَا خَلْفَهَا وَمَوْعِظَةً لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
And certainly you know those of you who violated the Sabbath, whereupon We said to them, ‘Be you spurned apes.’ So We made it an exemplary punishment for the present and the succeeding [generations], and an advice to the Godwary. [2:65-66]

4.
فَلَمَّا عَتَوْا عَنْ مَا نُهُوا عَنْهُ قُلْنَا لَهُمْ كُونُوا قِرَدَةً خَاسِئِينَ
When they defied [the command pertaining to] what they were forbidden from, We said to them, ‘Be you spurned apes.’ [7:166]

5. 
اللَّهُ يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Allah originates the creation, then He will bring it back, then you will be brought back to Him. [30:11]

 

[Ashvazdanghe]

1 hour ago, علوي said:

There are many other verses of the Quran that may point to reincarnation.

Salam all verses except no.4 about resurrection in judgment day or Raj'a which has no relation to reincarnation which No.4 is about Metamorphosis or Maskh  which " Metamorphosed People had no progenies since these people died after three days without producing children during their animal period."

https://en.wikishia.net/view/Metamorphosis