Just like Islam, Shiaism is also misrepresented and misunderstood on account of ignorance and antagonistic.
Shia school of thought is not a sect innovated by the Jews as some claim, but is the only school of thought which has attached itself to the Holy Prophet and the Holy Ahl Al Bayt, in obedience to Prophets Sunnah and in Submission to the will of Allah.
People neglected the AHL AL BAYT and began following their own ways and yet called their own innovated Schools as Islam, and themselves are the deviants from the prescribed course as Muslims.
Therefore those who faithfully followed the original teachings of the Holy Quran and remained faithfully attached to the prescribed course
by the Holy Prophet,had to distinguish themselves from others who had discarded the divinely set up guides, the AHL AL BAYT.
Thus those who followed Ali in the place of Holy Prophet, called themselves as the Shia's of Ali a.s, just to distinguish the Islam-Original which they faithfully followed and identified it as Shiaism.
This was quite in accordance with the 'bait' or the allegiance taken from Muslims by the Holy Prophet, for Ali at 'GHADEER-E-KHUM', while others disregarded it and paid their allegiance to their own chosen leaders.
Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) had declared that his ummah will divide into 73 sects, all would meet destruction except one, but which sect of the 73, will meet Heavenly Bliss?
The Messenger of Allah said to Ali: "Glad tiding O Ali! Verily you and your companions and your SHIA (followers) will be in Paradise."
The word shi'ah means a follower:
And most surely Abraham was among the Shi'ah of him (Qur'an 37:83)
And he (Moses) went into the city at a time when people (of the city) were not watching, so he found therein two men fighting, one being of his Shi'ah and the other being his enemy, and the one who was of his Shi'ah cried out to him for helpagainst the one who was of his enemy (Qur'an 28:15)
In the history of Islam, "Shi'ah" has been especially used for the followers of Imam 'Ali (a). This phrase is not something invented later! The first individual who used this term was the Messenger of Allah himself. When the following verse of the Qur'an was revealed:
(As for) those who believe and do good, surely they are the best of creatures
(Qur'an 98:7)
The Prophet (s) said to Ali: "It is for you and your Shi'ah."
He further said: "I swear by the one who controls my life that this man (Ali) and his Shi'ah shall secure deliverance on the Day of Resurrection."
