Jump to content

Rafida

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rafida(Arabic:رافضة,romanized:Rāfiḍa,lit. 'rejectors') refers to thoseShia Muslimswho 'reject' the legitimacy of thecaliphatesofAbu Bakr(r. 632–634),Umar(r. 634–644), andUthman(r. 644–656), in favor ofAli ibn Abi Talib(r. 656–661), the cousin and son-in-law of theIslamic prophetMuhammad.

In particular, the termRafidaappears inSunnipolemics as a derogatory nickname forTwelvers,who constitute the overwhelming majority of the Shia community. In turn, Twelvers have reinterpreted this nickname favorably to signify their rejection of perceived Sunni oppression.

Definition

[edit]

The termRafida(orRawafid,lit. 'rejectors',sg.Rafidi) refers to thoseShia Muslimswho 'reject' the legitimacy of thecaliphatesofAbu Bakr(r. 632–634),Umar(r. 634–644), andUthman(r. 644–656). One after another, thesecaliphssucceeded theIslamic prophetMuhammadafter he died in 632CE.[1][2]In particular, the termRafidais 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 termRafidaappears inSunnipolemics 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 termRafidahas 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]

Context

[edit]

By eleventh century, the Shia status as "rejectors of the Truth" was canonized byHanbalischolars, 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 ofAbbasidsin 1258, such attacks on Shi'ism intensified.[8]They are labeled today as infidels or heretics by variousSalafiandWahhabischolars,[9][10]considered a bigger threat to Islam thanChristianityandJudaism,[8][10]and there are frequent calls for their extermination.[11][9][12]On these grounds, someSunni Jihadist groupshave 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 to turn it to their advantage. Thus, the termRafidahas 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.[1]

History

[edit]

Origins

[edit]

Origins of the termRafidais uncertain. Perhaps the term is linked with the desertion of the Shia rebelZayd ibn Ali(d. 740CE) by someKufanShias, 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 theUmayyadsand he was killed.[3][22][23]Rather than the rejection of Zayd, more likely the termRafidahistorically signified the rejection of the first three caliphs by Imamites,[4]the forerunners of Twelvers.[4]

Over time, the termRafidabecame 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]ForZaydis,who follow Zayd's teachings, the term denoted the rejection of Zayd by early Imamites.[24]

Rafidain Sunni tradition

[edit]

Early in the Islamic history, the termRafidabecame a popular pejorative nickname for Imamites which, for Sunnis, signified the Imamites' rejection of the first three caliphs.[24]The termRafidaalso 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]

Rafidain Twelver tradition

[edit]

Even though the termRafidawas initially intended as a derogatory nickname,[3]there are Twelver traditions, attributed to Shia imams, that reinterpret this term favorably. In one such tradition, Rafida are identified as a small group among the people ofPharaohwho 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 termRafidaappeared also in theTawrat.[24]

Rafidain Zaydi tradition

[edit]

In some Zaydi sources, the termRafidarefers 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 prophetand 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 revoltwere 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]

See also

[edit]

Footnotes

[edit]
  1. ^abcEsposito 2003,p. 262.
  2. ^"Rāfiḍah".Encyclopædia Britannica.Archived fromthe originalon 27 March 2023.
  3. ^abcdefgKohlberg 2012.
  4. ^abcMomen 1985,p. 73.
  5. ^Haider 2014,p. 4.
  6. ^Amir-Moezzi 2014.
  7. ^Momen 1985,pp. 67–68.
  8. ^abcNasr 2007,§1.
  9. ^abYamani 2008,pp. 151–152.
  10. ^abSteinberg 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 fromthe originalon 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. ^abal-Abdul Jader 2010,p. 11.
  24. ^abcdefKohlberg 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

[edit]
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafida&oldid=1250803850"