Written by: Ghulam Mustafa Zaheer Amini
The creed of the Rafidah is based on falsehood and extremism. Their claim of love for the Ahl al-Bayt is not genuine. Just as the Christians’ claim of love for ‘Isa (AS) is not real but mere exaggeration, similarly the Rafidah’s claim of love for Ahl al-Bayt is only based on extremism. Their religion contradicts the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.
All members of the Ahl al-Bayt, including ‘Ali (RA), affirmed the virtues and excellence of Abu Bakr (RA) and ‘Umar (RA), loved them, and acknowledged the legitimacy of their caliphate. Whoever harbors hatred for the Sahabah (RA) in general, and for Abu Bakr (RA) and ‘Umar (RA) in particular, is disowned by the Ahl al-Bayt. For this reason, scholars in every era have exposed the lies and false claims of the Rafidah.
❀ Qadi al-Ishbili al-Maliki (d. 543 AH):
"Most heretics show attachment to Ahl al-Bayt and give preference to ‘Ali (RA) over all mankind."
Reference: al-‘Awasim min al-Qawasim, p. 247
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH):
"These people are Rafidah outwardly, but heretics inwardly."
Reference: Tarikh al-Islam 8/486
❀ Hasan bin Hasan bin Hasan bin ‘Ali (d. 145 AH) to a man who exaggerated about Ahl al-Bayt:
"Woe to you! Love us for the sake of Allah. If we obey Allah, then love us; if we disobey Allah, then hate us… By Allah! I fear that a sinner among us will have his punishment doubled, and I hope that a righteous one among us will have his reward doubled. Woe to you! Fear Allah and speak the truth about us. That will suffice you, and we will be pleased with you for it…"
Reference: Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d 5/245 (Hasan chain)
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH):
"If someone says: The Rafidah claim to love ‘Ali (RA); will they be with him? The answer: No—because love for the Sahabah must be in the manner prescribed by Shari‘ah, which includes following the beloved. ‘Ali (RA) never approved of disavowing Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA)."
Reference: Kashf al-Mushkil min Hadith al-Sahihayn 1/138
❀ Imam Muhammad bin Sirin (d. 110 AH):
"I do not think a man who insults Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA) loves the Prophet ﷺ."
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3685 (Sahih chain)
❀ Imam al-Firyabi (d. 212 AH):
On one who curses Abu Bakr (RA): "He is a disbeliever in Allah the Almighty… We do not pray over him nor honor him."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 7/253 (Hasan chain)
❀ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d. 241 AH):
"Whoever curses Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, or ‘A’ishah (RA), I do not consider him to be upon Islam."
Reference: al-Sarim al-Maslul by Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 571
❀ Ahmad bin ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Atiyyah (d. 560 AH):
"The most foolish people regarding certain issues are the Rafidah—they oppose the Qur’an and Sunnah and disbelieve in Allah."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 20/346 (Sahih chain)
❀ Ja‘far al-Sadiq (RA):
"Allah disowns the one who disowns Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA)."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 6/260
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi:
"This statement from Ja‘far al-Sadiq is mutawatir, and I testify before Allah that he was truthful in it and free from hypocrisy. May Allah ruin the Rafidah."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 6/260
❀ al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyad (d. 187 AH):
"Follow Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and ‘Ali (RA)—that is sufficient for you."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 8/448 (Sahih chain)
❀ Imam Abu al-‘Abbas al-Qurtubi (d. 656 AH):
He refuted the Shi‘ah’s false attribution of hatred toward Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA) to ‘Ali (RA) and affirmed his respect and love for them.
Reference: al-Mufhim lima Ashkala min Talkhis Kitab Muslim 6/252
❀ Qadi ‘Iyad (d. 544 AH):
"This hadith is evidence against the Shi‘ah and their false claim about ‘Ali’s view of ‘Umar (RA), and proof that ‘Ali acknowledged the virtues of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA)."
Reference: Ikmal al-Mu‘lim 7/394
❀ Imam al-Sha‘bi (d. 103 AH):
"Love the Ahl al-Bayt of your Prophet ﷺ, and do not be a Rafidi."
Reference: Tarikh Ibn Ma‘in (al-Duri) no. 1163 (Sahih chain)
① The Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah loved the Ahl al-Bayt.
② They urged others to love the Ahl al-Bayt.
③ They considered hatred for Ahl al-Bayt to be Rafidism.
④ The Rafidah’s claim of love for Ahl al-Bayt is false—they actually harbor enmity and deviate from their teachings.
⑤ This also refutes the Nasibis, who hate Ahl al-Bayt.
⑥ Every Nasibi is a Rafidi in nature, and every Rafidi is a Nasibi in the sense of transgression.
⑦ The Rafidah and Nasibis are two extremes; Ahl al-Sunnah are balanced.
⑧ Ahl al-Sunnah consider love for the Ahl al-Bayt to be part of faith.
⑨ They avoid exaggeration or deficiency regarding both the Ahl al-Bayt and the other Sahabah.
⑩ The books of Ahl al-Sunnah are filled with teachings about loving the Ahl al-Bayt.
⑪ Imam al-Sha‘bi was a student of ‘Ali (RA) and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (RA), making his advice rooted in the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.
⑫ Rafidism is not considered a valid form of religion by the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah.
The creed of the Rafidah is based on falsehood and extremism. Their claim of love for the Ahl al-Bayt is not genuine. Just as the Christians’ claim of love for ‘Isa (AS) is not real but mere exaggeration, similarly the Rafidah’s claim of love for Ahl al-Bayt is only based on extremism. Their religion contradicts the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.
All members of the Ahl al-Bayt, including ‘Ali (RA), affirmed the virtues and excellence of Abu Bakr (RA) and ‘Umar (RA), loved them, and acknowledged the legitimacy of their caliphate. Whoever harbors hatred for the Sahabah (RA) in general, and for Abu Bakr (RA) and ‘Umar (RA) in particular, is disowned by the Ahl al-Bayt. For this reason, scholars in every era have exposed the lies and false claims of the Rafidah.
Statements of Scholars and Early Authorities
❀ Qadi al-Ishbili al-Maliki (d. 543 AH):
"Most heretics show attachment to Ahl al-Bayt and give preference to ‘Ali (RA) over all mankind."
Reference: al-‘Awasim min al-Qawasim, p. 247
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH):
"These people are Rafidah outwardly, but heretics inwardly."
Reference: Tarikh al-Islam 8/486
❀ Hasan bin Hasan bin Hasan bin ‘Ali (d. 145 AH) to a man who exaggerated about Ahl al-Bayt:
"Woe to you! Love us for the sake of Allah. If we obey Allah, then love us; if we disobey Allah, then hate us… By Allah! I fear that a sinner among us will have his punishment doubled, and I hope that a righteous one among us will have his reward doubled. Woe to you! Fear Allah and speak the truth about us. That will suffice you, and we will be pleased with you for it…"
Reference: Tabaqat Ibn Sa‘d 5/245 (Hasan chain)
❀ Hafiz Ibn al-Jawzi (d. 597 AH):
"If someone says: The Rafidah claim to love ‘Ali (RA); will they be with him? The answer: No—because love for the Sahabah must be in the manner prescribed by Shari‘ah, which includes following the beloved. ‘Ali (RA) never approved of disavowing Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA)."
Reference: Kashf al-Mushkil min Hadith al-Sahihayn 1/138
❀ Imam Muhammad bin Sirin (d. 110 AH):
"I do not think a man who insults Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA) loves the Prophet ﷺ."
Reference: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3685 (Sahih chain)
❀ Imam al-Firyabi (d. 212 AH):
On one who curses Abu Bakr (RA): "He is a disbeliever in Allah the Almighty… We do not pray over him nor honor him."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 7/253 (Hasan chain)
❀ Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal (d. 241 AH):
"Whoever curses Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, or ‘A’ishah (RA), I do not consider him to be upon Islam."
Reference: al-Sarim al-Maslul by Ibn Taymiyyah, p. 571
❀ Ahmad bin ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Atiyyah (d. 560 AH):
"The most foolish people regarding certain issues are the Rafidah—they oppose the Qur’an and Sunnah and disbelieve in Allah."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 20/346 (Sahih chain)
❀ Ja‘far al-Sadiq (RA):
"Allah disowns the one who disowns Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA)."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 6/260
❀ Hafiz al-Dhahabi:
"This statement from Ja‘far al-Sadiq is mutawatir, and I testify before Allah that he was truthful in it and free from hypocrisy. May Allah ruin the Rafidah."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 6/260
❀ al-Fudayl bin ‘Iyad (d. 187 AH):
"Follow Abu Bakr, ‘Umar, ‘Uthman, and ‘Ali (RA)—that is sufficient for you."
Reference: Siyar A‘lam al-Nubala’ 8/448 (Sahih chain)
❀ Imam Abu al-‘Abbas al-Qurtubi (d. 656 AH):
He refuted the Shi‘ah’s false attribution of hatred toward Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA) to ‘Ali (RA) and affirmed his respect and love for them.
Reference: al-Mufhim lima Ashkala min Talkhis Kitab Muslim 6/252
❀ Qadi ‘Iyad (d. 544 AH):
"This hadith is evidence against the Shi‘ah and their false claim about ‘Ali’s view of ‘Umar (RA), and proof that ‘Ali acknowledged the virtues of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar (RA)."
Reference: Ikmal al-Mu‘lim 7/394
❀ Imam al-Sha‘bi (d. 103 AH):
"Love the Ahl al-Bayt of your Prophet ﷺ, and do not be a Rafidi."
Reference: Tarikh Ibn Ma‘in (al-Duri) no. 1163 (Sahih chain)
Key Points Derived from Imam al-Sha‘bi’s Statement
① The Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah loved the Ahl al-Bayt.
② They urged others to love the Ahl al-Bayt.
③ They considered hatred for Ahl al-Bayt to be Rafidism.
④ The Rafidah’s claim of love for Ahl al-Bayt is false—they actually harbor enmity and deviate from their teachings.
⑤ This also refutes the Nasibis, who hate Ahl al-Bayt.
⑥ Every Nasibi is a Rafidi in nature, and every Rafidi is a Nasibi in the sense of transgression.
⑦ The Rafidah and Nasibis are two extremes; Ahl al-Sunnah are balanced.
⑧ Ahl al-Sunnah consider love for the Ahl al-Bayt to be part of faith.
⑨ They avoid exaggeration or deficiency regarding both the Ahl al-Bayt and the other Sahabah.
⑩ The books of Ahl al-Sunnah are filled with teachings about loving the Ahl al-Bayt.
⑪ Imam al-Sha‘bi was a student of ‘Ali (RA) and ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (RA), making his advice rooted in the teachings of the Ahl al-Bayt.
⑫ Rafidism is not considered a valid form of religion by the Imams of Ahl al-Sunnah.
