Thread by @ShiaEurope

When was Shia founded?
Shia is the follower of Muhammad by Ali.
It was existed in the time of Rasulollah.
The Prophet quoted:" O Ali, You and your followers(Shiites), are the best creatures."
Tafsir Tabary/Sha'n Nozul/98:8

"The first name which was appeared in the time of Rassulollah, was 'SHIA'.
Salman Farsi, Abuzar Qifary, Miqdad ibn Aswad and Ammar was known as Shia, in the time of Prophet Muhammad (SAA)."

Narrated by:

Ibn Hatam al-Razi (Sunni)/Book Al-Zinat/120 al-Shia

The Messenger of God said: Haven't you hear the word of Allah who said: "They are the best of creatures."¹

They are you and your Shiites. Me and you are supposed to be on the Kosar Basin, when it's time for an audit [of people on the day of Judgement].
Allama Alusi/Roh al-Ma'ani

Narrated on the authority of Ibn Abbas:
اوُلئِکَ هُم خَیرُ البَرِیّة (البینه:۸) (98:8)
When this Aya was descended, the Prophet told Ali: "That's You and your Shiites on the day of Judgement, Well-pleased and Well-pleasing."
#Ali
Jalal o Deen Soyoti(Sunni)/Al-Dorar ol-Mansur

Narrated on the authority of Mujahid about this Aya:
"اوُلئِکَ هُم خَیرُ البَرِیَّة"

"It mentions Ali, his Ahl all-But and his Lovers (Shiites)."
#Ali
The Scholar Ibn Juzi(Sunni)/Tazkerat ol Khavas

Narrated on the authority of Jabir ibn Abdullah:

Then Jabir ibn Abdullah mentioned:
We were with the Prophet, he pointed to Ali and said: "I swear to Allah that This man (Ali) and his Shiites are the best creatures."
#Ali
Allama Shokani(Sunni)/Fath ol Ghadir

Narrated on the authority of Imam Ali (AS):
I complained to the Prophet of Allah that people envy me. Then the Prophet quoted: "Aren't you pleased that you are one of four that enter the Jannah(Heaven)? The first people who enter the Jannah: Me, You, Hassan and Hussain...

Then our wives from our right and left, then our children behind them and our Shiites behind us."
#Ali
Mosnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal/Book of Faza'il Sahaba/hadith 1068

Also, Ibn Asaker Dameshqi has narrated that with a different document from the Prophet in his book:
"4 group will enter Jannah:...."
Imam Ali asked:"So where are our Shiites?"
The Prophet answered: "They will enter the Jannah behind You."

Ibn Asaker/History; Medina of Damascus

Holy Prophet said to Amir al-Mu'minin:

"Four groups enter heaven.

Me, you, Hassan and Hussein, then our children behind us and our women behind our children and our Shiites entering heaven from both sides."
#Ali
Tabarani/Al-Mo'jam al-Kabir

So, Prophet of Islam has founded the principle of the Shia. Now, why are we going to say the truth?
Because many satellite networks, some people in cyberspace and some books are saying that Shia came from Safavia, Iranians, Majusi and Abdullah ibn Saba.
#Ali

If the Shia was founded by Iranians, Safavia, Majusi and Ibn Saba, scholars of Al-Azhar, from the beginning, from the time of Sheikh Shaltut, would never admit that the Shia was official religion.

We have the document that Sheikh issued a liberal jump to the Shiite religion.

Dr. Sheikh Ahmad Tayeb, Imam and Sheikh of Al-Azhar, said in responding to the journalist asks, "Is it a official religion?"

"Yes, this is the official religion and Islamic and acceptable. We even have some Fiqhi problems (e.g. divorce problem), we refer to religion of Shia."