Rafida (Arabic:رافضة,romanized: Rāfiḍa,lit. 'rejectors') is a polemical term referring toShia Muslims. It derives fromShia Muslims' rejection of the legitimacy ofAbu Bakr (r. 632–634),Umar (r. 634–644), andUthman (r. 644–656) ascaliphs, in favor of anImamate beginning withAli ibn Abi Talib (r. 656–661), the cousin and son-in-law of theIslamic prophetMuhammad.
In particular, the termRafida appears inSunni polemics as a derogatory nickname forTwelvers, who constitute the majority of the Shia community. In turn, Twelvers havereappropriated this nickname favorably to signify their rejection of tyranny and their struggle against perceived Sunni oppression.
The termRafida (orRawafid,lit. 'rejectors',sg.Rafidi) refers to thoseShia Muslims who 'reject' the legitimacy of thecaliphates ofAbu Bakr (r. 632–634),Umar (r. 634–644), andUthman (r. 644–656). One after another, thesecaliphs succeeded theIslamic prophetMuhammad after he died in 632CE.[1][2] In particular, the termRafida is applied toTwelvers,[3][4] who constitute the vast majority of Shias.[5] Twelvers believe that, shortly before he died, Muhammad publicly designated his cousin and son-in-law,Ali ibn Abi Talib, as his successor at theGhadir Khumm. In their view, early caliphs thus usurped Ali's right to succeed Muhammad. They also believe that Ali was succeeded byeleven of his descendants.[3][6]
Rooted in early Islamic history, the termRafida appears inSunni 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.[1] Less commonly, the termRafida has been applied to other Shia sects, such as theghulat (lit. 'exaggerators' or'extremists'),[3] who ascribed divinity to Shia imams and were excommunicated by them.[7]
By eleventh century, the Shia status as "rejectors of the Truth" was canonized byHanbali scholars, who did not grant Islamic rights to Shia Muslims: They were not to be married with, meat slaughtered by them was nothalal (permissible), and they could not lead prayers.[8][3] With the fall ofAbbasids in 1258, such attacks on Shi'ism intensified.[8] They are labeled today as infidels or heretics by variousSalafi andWahhabi scholars,[9][10] considered a bigger threat to Islam thanChristianity andJudaism,[8][10] and there are frequent calls for their extermination.[11][9][12] On these grounds, someSunni Jihadist groups have justified their acts of violence against the Shia community.[13][14] A popular reference for these groups is the prominent Hanbali theologianIbn Taymiyya (d. 1328), a staunch anti-Shia who also accused the Shia of conspiring with nonbelievers to destroy Islam from within.[15] InSaudi Arabia, where Wahhabism is present,[16][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 toreappropriate it. Thus, the termRafida in Twelver sources became 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.[1]
Origins of the termRafida is uncertain. Perhaps the term is linked with the desertion of the Shia rebelZayd ibn Ali (d. 740CE) by someKufan 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 theUmayyads and he was killed.[3][22][23] Rather than the rejection of Zayd, more likely the termRafida historically signified the rejection of the first three caliphs by Imamites,[4] the forerunners of Twelvers.[4]
Over time, the termRafida 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 —according to the Twelver view— usurping Ali ibn Abi Talib's right to succeed Muhammad.[25][26] ForZaydis, who follow Zayd's teachings, the term denoted the rejection of Zayd by early Imamites.[24]
Early in the Islamic history, the termRafida became a popular pejorative nickname for Imamites which, for Sunnis, signified the Imamites' rejection of the first three caliphs.[24] The termRafida also 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 toJews, are blamed for introducing into Islam the concept ofanthropomorphism (tashbih), which is allegedly a hallmark of Judaism.[3]
Even though the termRafida was initially intended as a derogatory nickname,[3] there are Twelver traditions, attributed to ShiaImams, that reinterpret this term favorably. In one such tradition, Rafida are identified as a small group among the people ofPharaoh 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 theQuran. According to some Twelver traditions, the termRafida appeared also in theTawrat.[24]
In some Zaydi sources, the termRafida refers to those Kufans who deserted Zayd because he did not condemn the first two caliphs.[27][28] Even though Zayd likely viewed Ali as the best amongst thecompanions of the Islamic prophet and the most qualified to succeed him,[29][30] he also regarded the caliphates of Abu Bakr and Umar as permissible. The preponderance of Shias who rejected Zayd's stance and refused to supporthis revolt were described by Zayd's supporters as theRafida.[23] Over time, this term became a popular pejorative nickname for Imamites which, for Zaydis, signified the Imamites' rejection of Zayd.[24]