Shia View of al-Munafiqun

[Hadrami]

In regards to Surah al-Munafiqun, shia often use it as "proof" that it talked about companions like Abu Bakar RA, Umar RA etc. Let's say for argument sake that the Surah was about them, not just bin Ubay and his companions.

Several questions came up:
- Why was it revealed more than a decade and years after hijra if it was about Abu Bakar RA, Umar RA?
- Didnt shia believe they were worse hypocrites than bin Ubay? Why was there no warnings at all for all those years in Mekkah?
- Did Abu Bakar RA, Umar RA only became hypocrites after hijra?
- Why was there no warning about them in Mekkah when Rasulullah shallallahu alaihi wasallam has less followers, no army & were in minority?

[Farid]

Good topic. Very valid questions.

[Furkan]

Now we need a knowledgeable shia to answer them ...

[Hadrami]

Im digging up old topics which shias avoids. Any clever shia around?

[Rationalist]

Shaykh Mufid does takfir on Abi Bakr for being fearful in the cave. So, the 12ers are saying it didn't come out till after.

[MuslimAnswers]

Shaykh Mufid does takfir on Abi Bakr for being fearful in the cave. So, the 12ers are saying it didn't come out till after.

The Munaafiq is the one who does show outward Islam and follows the rules of Islam, even while his inward is something else and they may only give allusions to their Kufr by their words - that is why it is so difficult to judge them as Kuffar since the words used may have meanings other than disbelief.

This is not what the Twelvers claim about the Sahaabah whatsoever, rather the claim is that they were always trying to overthrow and even assassinate the Prophet (Salla Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) [including in the Cave as per the 12er stories] until they were ultimately successful, so the issue seems very different. This same applies to us Sunnis, if we were 'Munaafiqs of Islam' in their view we would seemingly follow the "Shia Infallibles" while having some other beliefs; yet no, we Sunnis are proudly not following the Shia religion, we are very clear on this, our scholars historically were not afraid of the Shias, nor did they consider their arguments very persuasive in all honesty.