Al-Waqifa: Its Belief, History and Present

Abstract

Al-Waqifa,  a group of people who have a special belief in Imamate, had repercussions in Islamic thought in general and Shiite thought in particular. Due to the large number of books of Al-Waqifa and the preoccupation of scholars in responding to them and refuting their arguments. As some of the opinions and positions of Al-Waqifa had an impact on the rulings and legislation that deviated from the line of the Imamate, the issuance of these rulings was due to some reasons, including the misunderstanding of some of Al-Waqifa of the hadiths of the imams, or the intentions of his premeditation, to justify their actions and their misguidance. The number of those standing in the ranks of the companions of Islam was so great that it reached a significant impact. This was mentioned in the books of al-Tusi, al-Najashi, al-Kashi, al-Mufid and others. The presence of Al-Waqifa in various cities such as Medina, Kufa, Egypt and Khorasan made it difficult to restrain them, especially that their books were spreading between the public and the private. Despite the death of many of Al-Waqifa Movements with the death of their leaders and the failure of the rest of them to withstand, and with the passage of time and the spread of religious awareness, only Ismailis, Zaydis and others remained.