✍ Written by: Hafiz Zubair Ali Zai
➊ At the end of times, a nation will emerge known as "Rafidi." They will revile my Companions. If one of them falls ill, do not inquire; if they die, do not attend their funeral. If one of yours dies, do not allow them to participate in the funeral.
➋ When trials and innovations become widespread and the Companions are cursed, a scholar should make his knowledge apparent.
➌ The Holy Prophet ﷺ said to Umar: “O Umar, speak the truth even if it is bitter to people's hearts.”
➍ When Abu Bakr is present in a community, it is not permissible for anyone else to lead them in prayer.
(From: Abdullah Tahir, Islamabad)
(Al-Qamus al-Wahid, p. 648)
Imam Al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH) states:
"Whoever holds hatred for the Shaykhan (Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them) yet believes in their rightful leadership is a despicable Rafidi. One who does not consider them rightly guided Imams and reviles them is from the extremist Rafidah."
(Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, 16/458, Biography of Al-Daraqutni)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 AH) says:
"Whoever gives precedence to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) over Abu Bakr and Umar in virtue is a staunch Shi'a, and the term 'Rafidi' applies to him."
(Hadi al-Sari, Introduction to Fath al-Bari, p. 459)
The Ithna Ashari Ja'fari sect is considered a Rafidi sect.
"A narration allegedly from the Prophet ﷺ stating: At the end of times, a group will emerge who will hate (the Rightly Guided Caliphs). Do not eat with them, do not join them, do not pray their funeral prayers."
➡ Status: Fabricated (No basis)
(Kitab al-Majruhin by Ibn Hibban, p. 187; Al-Dhahabi called it severely Munkar)
2. Another Narration Stating:
"At the end of time, a group will emerge named Rafidi; they will abandon Islam."
➡ Status: Weak
(Musnad Ahmad, 1/103, Hadith 808 – Contains weak narrators like Abu Qatil and Kathir Al-Nawa)
3. Hadith Allegedly from Ibn Abbas:
"Kill the Rafidis, for they are polytheists."
➡ Status: Weak
(Musnad Abd bin Humaid, Hadith 698 – Contains weak narrators like Imran bin Zayd and Hajjaj bin Tamim)
4. From Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
"Ali and his Shi'a are in Paradise; the Rafidis are polytheists, fight them."
➡ Status: Fabricated
(Hilyat al-Awliya, 4/329; Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanahiya, 1/158; Siyar A'lam states that Sawār bin Mus'ab is a liar)
5. Narrative from Zainab bint Ali through Fāṭimah (R.A):
"Ali is in Paradise, but some of his followers will abandon Islam, known as Rafidis."
➡ Status: Very Weak/Fabricated
(Ibn Hibban's Majruhin, p. 205; Contains narrators like Talid bin Sulayman, who was cursed by Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in)
① A group will love me so excessively that they will enter Hell due to it, and another will hate me and likewise enter Hell.
(Kitab Fadail al-Sahabah, 2/565 – Authentic chain)
② Two types of people will perish because of me: the extreme lover and the hater.
(Fadail al-Sahabah, 2/571 – Hasan chain)
These statements highlight the danger of extremes—whether excessive love or hatred.
Conclusion: The narration mentioned in the question is baseless and invalid.
❖ The Question
Peace be upon you. I have heard the following Hadiths from various scholars who are now deceased. They did not mention any references. Kindly inform me about the authenticity of these Hadiths and provide their sources. The Hadiths are (as per meaning):➊ At the end of times, a nation will emerge known as "Rafidi." They will revile my Companions. If one of them falls ill, do not inquire; if they die, do not attend their funeral. If one of yours dies, do not allow them to participate in the funeral.
➋ When trials and innovations become widespread and the Companions are cursed, a scholar should make his knowledge apparent.
➌ The Holy Prophet ﷺ said to Umar: “O Umar, speak the truth even if it is bitter to people's hearts.”
➍ When Abu Bakr is present in a community, it is not permissible for anyone else to lead them in prayer.
(From: Abdullah Tahir, Islamabad)
❖ The Response
Definition of Rafidi:"Rafidi is one who deems the vilification and defamation of the Companions permissible."(Al-Qamus al-Wahid, p. 648)
Imam Al-Dhahabi (d. 748 AH) states:
"Whoever holds hatred for the Shaykhan (Abu Bakr and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them) yet believes in their rightful leadership is a despicable Rafidi. One who does not consider them rightly guided Imams and reviles them is from the extremist Rafidah."
(Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, 16/458, Biography of Al-Daraqutni)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 AH) says:
"Whoever gives precedence to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) over Abu Bakr and Umar in virtue is a staunch Shi'a, and the term 'Rafidi' applies to him."
(Hadi al-Sari, Introduction to Fath al-Bari, p. 459)
The Ithna Ashari Ja'fari sect is considered a Rafidi sect.
❖ Evidence and Refutations
1. Misattributed Narration:"A narration allegedly from the Prophet ﷺ stating: At the end of times, a group will emerge who will hate (the Rightly Guided Caliphs). Do not eat with them, do not join them, do not pray their funeral prayers."
➡ Status: Fabricated (No basis)
(Kitab al-Majruhin by Ibn Hibban, p. 187; Al-Dhahabi called it severely Munkar)
2. Another Narration Stating:
"At the end of time, a group will emerge named Rafidi; they will abandon Islam."
➡ Status: Weak
(Musnad Ahmad, 1/103, Hadith 808 – Contains weak narrators like Abu Qatil and Kathir Al-Nawa)
3. Hadith Allegedly from Ibn Abbas:
"Kill the Rafidis, for they are polytheists."
➡ Status: Weak
(Musnad Abd bin Humaid, Hadith 698 – Contains weak narrators like Imran bin Zayd and Hajjaj bin Tamim)
4. From Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
"Ali and his Shi'a are in Paradise; the Rafidis are polytheists, fight them."
➡ Status: Fabricated
(Hilyat al-Awliya, 4/329; Al-‘Ilal al-Mutanahiya, 1/158; Siyar A'lam states that Sawār bin Mus'ab is a liar)
5. Narrative from Zainab bint Ali through Fāṭimah (R.A):
"Ali is in Paradise, but some of his followers will abandon Islam, known as Rafidis."
➡ Status: Very Weak/Fabricated
(Ibn Hibban's Majruhin, p. 205; Contains narrators like Talid bin Sulayman, who was cursed by Imam Yahya ibn Ma'in)
❖ Summary of Hadith Investigations
All narrations directly condemning the Rafidi by this specific label and commanding their killing or social boycott are either fabricated (موضوع) or extremely weak (ضعیف جداً). These narrations are not authentic and cannot be attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.❖ Valid Mursal Statements from Ali (رضی اللہ عنہ)
Imam Ahmad narrates:① A group will love me so excessively that they will enter Hell due to it, and another will hate me and likewise enter Hell.
(Kitab Fadail al-Sahabah, 2/565 – Authentic chain)
② Two types of people will perish because of me: the extreme lover and the hater.
(Fadail al-Sahabah, 2/571 – Hasan chain)
These statements highlight the danger of extremes—whether excessive love or hatred.
❖ Final Verdict
None of the narrations in the question can be found in any authentic Hadith collection with a sound chain. All are either fabricated or extremely weak. Statements about the Rafidah condemning them with severe consequences are not authentically traceable to the Prophet ﷺ. Conclusion: The narration mentioned in the question is baseless and invalid.
