Rafida

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Rafida (

Islamic prophet Muhammad
.

In particular, the term Rafida appears in

Twelvers
, who constitute the majority of the Shia community. In turn, Twelvers have reinterpreted this nickname favorably to signify their rejection of tyranny and their struggle against perceived Sunni oppression.

Definition

The term Rafida (or Rawafid, lit. 'rejectors', sg. Rafidi) refers to those

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.[3][6]

Rooted in early Islamic history, the term Rafida appears 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.[1] Less commonly, the term Rafida has been applied to other Shia sects, such as the ghulat (lit. 'exaggerators' or 'extremists'),[3] who ascribed divinity to Shia imams and were excommunicated by them.[7]

Context

By eleventh century, the Shia status as "rejectors of the Truth" was canonized by

Wahhabi scholars,[9][10] considered a bigger threat to Islam than Christianity and Judaism,[8][10] and there are frequent calls for their extermination.[11][9][12] On these grounds, some Sunni Jihadist groups have justified their acts of violence against the Shia community.[13][14] 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.[15] In Saudi 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 to reappropriate it. Thus, the term Rafida 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]

History

Origins

Origins of the term Rafida is uncertain. Perhaps the term is linked with the desertion of the Shia rebel

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.[3][22][23] Rather than the rejection of Zayd, more likely the term Rafida historically signified the rejection of the first three caliphs by Imamites,[4] the forerunners of Twelvers.[4]

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 —according to the Twelver view— usurping Ali ibn Abi Talib's right to succeed Muhammad.[25][26] For Zaydis, who follow Zayd's teachings, the term denoted the rejection of Zayd by early Imamites.[24]

Rafida in Sunni tradition

Early in the Islamic history, the term Rafida became a popular pejorative nickname for Imamites which, for Sunnis, signified the Imamites' rejection of the first three caliphs.[24] The term Rafida 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 to Jews, are blamed for introducing into Islam the concept of anthropomorphism (tashbih), which is allegedly a hallmark of Judaism.[3]

Rafida in Twelver tradition

Even though the term Rafida was initially intended as a derogatory nickname,

Tawrat.[24]

Rafida in Zaydi tradition

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 likely viewed Ali as the best amongst the companions 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 support his revolt were described by Zayd's supporters as the Rafida.[23] Over time, this term became a popular pejorative nickname for Imamites which, for Zaydis, signified the Imamites' rejection of Zayd.[24]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b c Esposito 2003, p. 262.
  2. ^ "Rāfiḍah". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 27 March 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Kohlberg 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Momen 1985, p. 73.
  5. ^ Haider 2014, p. 4.
  6. ^ Amir-Moezzi 2014.
  7. ^ Momen 1985, pp. 67–68.
  8. ^ a b c Nasr 2007, §1.
  9. ^ a b Yamani 2008, pp. 151–152.
  10. ^ a b Steinberg 2014, p. 113.
  11. ^ Jones 2005, p. 21.
  12. ^ Steinberg 2014, p. 114.
  13. ^ Shorok 2017, pp. 14–15.
  14. ^ Steinberg 2014.
  15. ^ Steinberg 2014, p. 111.
  16. ^ Ibrahim 2006, pp. 21–22.
  17. ^ Jones 2005, p. 23.
  18. ^ Hassan, Hassan (22 February 2022). "The 'Conscious Uncoupling' of Wahhabism and Saudi Arabia". New Lines Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 February 2022.
  19. ^ Prokop 2003, p. 81.
  20. ^ Jones 2005, pp. 23–24.
  21. ^ Kohlberg 1979, p. 678.
  22. ^ Daftary 2013, p. 146.
  23. ^ a b al-Abdul Jader 2010, p. 11.
  24. ^ a b c d e f 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 1979, p. 252.
  30. ^ Lalani 2000, p. 47.

Sources
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafida&oldid=1296402423"
This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article: Rafida. Articles is available under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; additional terms may apply.Privacy Policy