Rafida

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Rafida (Arabic: رافضة, romanized: Rāfiḍa, lit. 'rejectors') refers to those Shia Muslims who 'reject' the legitimacy of the caliphates of Abu Bakr (r. 632–634), Umar (r. 634–644), and Uthman (r. 644–656), in favor of Ali ibn Abi Talib (r. 656–661), the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Rooted in early Islamic history, the term Rafida is used in Sunni polemics as a derogatory label against Twelver Shias. In turn, Twelver Shias have reinterpreted this nickname favorably to signify their rejection of perceived Sunni oppression.

Definition[edit]

The term Rafida (or Rawafid, lit. 'rejectors'), sg. Rafidi) refers to Shia sects that 'reject' the legitimacy of the caliphates of Abu Bakr (r. 632–634), Umar (r. 634–644), and Uthman (r. 644–656).[1][2] One after another, these caliphs succeeded the Islamic prophet Muhammad after he died in 632 CE.[3][4] In particular, the term Rafida is applied to Twelver Shias.[5][6] Twelvers believe that, shortly before he died, Muhammad publicly designated his cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, as his successor at the Ghadir Khumm. In their view, early caliphs thus usurped Ali's right to succeed Muhammad. They also believe that Ali was succeeded by eleven of his descendants.[5][7]

Rooted in early Islamic history, the term Rafida is used in Sunni polemics as a deragotary nickname for Twelvers, who have, in turn, reinterpreted this term favorably to signify 'rejection' of all tyranny and their struggle against perceived Sunni oppression.[3] Less commonly, the term Rafida has been applied to other Shia sects, such as the ghulat (lit. 'exaggerators' or 'extremists'),[5] who ascribed divinity to Shia imams and were excommunicated by them.[8]

Context[edit]

By eleventh century, the Shia status as "rejectors of the Truth" was canonized by Hanbali scholars, who did not grant Islamic rights to Shia Muslims: They were not to be married with, meat slaughtered by them was not halal (permissible), and they could not lead prayers.[9][5] With the fall of Abbasids in 1258, such attacks on Shi'ism intensified.[9] They are labeled today as infidels or heretics by various Salafi and Wahhabi scholars,[10][11] considered a bigger threat to Islam than Christianity and Judaism,[9][11] and there are frequent calls for their extermination.[12][10][13] On these grounds, some Sunni Jihadist groups have justified their acts of violence against the Shia community.[14][15] A popular reference for these groups is the prominent Hanbali theologian Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328), a staunch anti-Shia who also accused the Shia of conspiring with nonbelievers to destroy Islam from within.[16] In Saudi Arabia, where Wahhabism was dominant,[17][18] schoolbooks referred to Shias as the Rafida until 1993. They were still openly denounced in Saudi schoolbooks and state-sponsored media as late as 2000s.[19][20]


Once Shias realized that they could not rid themselves of the pejorative nickname, they sought to turn it to their advantage. Thus, the term Rafida has been reinterpreted in Twelver sources as an honorific title.[21] In the contemporary era, some Shias in Iraq and Lebanon view the term as a source of pride, symbolizing revolt against tyranny.[3]

History[edit]

Origins[edit]

Origins of the term Rafida is uncertain. Perhaps the term is linked with the desertion of the Shia rebel Zayd ibn Ali (d. 740 CE) by some Kufan Shias, after the former refused to denounce the first two caliphs. They thus 'rejected' Zayd and became known as the Rafida. Zayd's rebellion was subsequently suppressed by the Umayyads and he was killed.[5][22][23] Rather than the rejection of Zayd, more likely the term Rafida historically signified the rejection of the first three caliphs by Imamite Shias.[6]

Over time, the term Rafida became a popular pejorative for Twelvers.[24] For Sunnis, the term signified the rejection of the first three caliphs,[24] whom Twelvers count among infidels for allegedly usurping Ali ibn Abi Talib's right to succeed Muhammad.[25][26] Alternatively, for Zaydis, who follow Zayd's teachings, the term denoted the rejection of Zayd by early Imamite Shias.[24]

Rafida in Sunni tradition[edit]

The term Rafida appears in some Sunni traditions of dubious authenticity. In one such tradition, Muhammad predicts the emergence of a group that would reject (yarfuduna) Islam. In another one, he orders Ali ibn Abi Talib to kill the Rafida for they are polytheists. Elsewhere, the Rafida, who are allegedly similar to Jews, are blamed for introducing into Islam the concept of anthropomorphism (tashbih), which is allegedly a hallmark of Judaism.[5]

Rafida in Twelver tradition[edit]

Even though the term Rafida was initially intended as a derogatory nickname,[5] there are Twelver traditions that, attributed to Shia imams, that reinterpret this term favorably. In one such tradition, Rafida are identified as a small group among the people of Pharaoh who rejected his rule, undaunted by his threats of punishment. This tradition is a reference to verses 7:120–126 and 20:70–75 of the Quran. According to some Twelver traditions, the term Rafida even appeared in the Tawrat.[24]

Rafida in Zaydi tradition[edit]

In some Zaydi sources, the term Rafida refers to those Kufans who deserted Zayd because he did not condemn the first two caliphs,[27][28] even though Zayd probably still regarded Ali ibn Abi Talib more qualified to succeed the Islamic prophet.[29][30] While Zayd viewed Ali as the best amongst the Companions of the Prophet, he also regarded the imamates of Abu Bakr and Umar as permissible. Those Shias who rejected Zayd's stance and refused to support the his revolt were described by Zayd's supporters as "Rafida".[31]

The term "Rafida" eventually became a widespread pejorative label used by the Zaydi scholars against Imami Shia sects, in criticism of the latter's rejection of Zayd ibn Ali.[32]

See also[edit]

Footnotes[edit]

  1. ^ Kohlberg 2012 "al-Rāfiḍa or al-Rawāfiḍ , a term that refers to (i) the proto-Imāmiyya (and, subsequently, the Twelver S̲h̲īʿa); (ii) any of a number of S̲h̲īʿī sects. ... The term Rāfiḍa is therefore variously said to recall the desertion of Zayd, the rejection of the first two caliphs, or both."
  2. ^ "Rāfiḍah". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Esposito 2003, p. 262.
  4. ^ Madelung 2000, p. 112.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Kohlberg 2012.
  6. ^ a b Momen 1985, p. 73.
  7. ^ Amir-Moezzi 2014.
  8. ^ Momen 1985, pp. 67–68.
  9. ^ a b c Nasr 2007, §1.
  10. ^ a b Yamani 2008, pp. 151–152.
  11. ^ a b Steinberg 2014, p. 113.
  12. ^ Jones 2005, p. 21.
  13. ^ Steinberg 2014, p. 114.
  14. ^ Shorok 2017, pp. 14–15.
  15. ^ Steinberg 2014.
  16. ^ Steinberg 2014, p. 111.
  17. ^ Ibrahim 2006, pp. 21–22.
  18. ^ Jones 2005, p. 23.
  19. ^ Prokop 2003, p. 81.
  20. ^ Jones 2005, pp. 23–24.
  21. ^ Kohlberg 1979, p. 678.
  22. ^ Daftary 2013, p. 146.
  23. ^ al-Abdul Jader 2010, p. 11.
  24. ^ a b c d Kohlberg 1979, p. 677.
  25. ^ Dakake 2007, p. 107.
  26. ^ Friedlaender 1907, p. 22.
  27. ^ Haider 2011, pp. 196–197.
  28. ^ Haider 2014, p. 89.
  29. ^ Jafri 1977, p. 252.
  30. ^ Lalani 2000, p. 47.
  31. ^ Suleiman, Yasir, ed. (21 Apr 2010). Living Islamic History: Studies in Honour of Professor Carole Hillenbrand (illustrated ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 11. ISBN 9780748642199.
  32. ^ Kohlberg 1979, p. 677 "In subsequent generations, ... the term "Rafida" became a popular pejorative appellation of the Imamiyya, it was intended to recall two major sins: for the Zaydiyya, the sin of rejecting Zayd..."

Sources[edit]

External links[edit]

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