Rafidah (Extreme Rejectors)

Outside the Fold

الرافضة

Overview

The term applied to extreme Shia who explicitly curse and revile the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ — especially Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman — and hold that the Quran was corrupted by the Companions after the Prophet's death. Distinguished from ordinary Shia by three defining positions: cursing the Sahabah, claiming Quranic corruption, and ascribing divine attributes (infallibility, knowledge of the unseen) to the Imams — including invoking them in du'a after death.

Key Beliefs

Explicit cursing of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and most Companions
Claim that the Companions corrupted the Quran after the Prophet's death
Infallibility and divine knowledge of the twelve Imams
Invocation of dead Imams in du'a (shirk per Athari aqeedah)
Wilayah (guardianship/authority) of Imams as a pillar of faith equal to the shahada

Scholarly Evaluation

Outside the fold of Islam according to Ibn Taymiyyah (Minhaj al-Sunnah), Ibn Kathir, al-Dhahabi, and the majority of Ahl us-Sunnah scholars. Three doctrines are specifically cited: (1) The claim that the Companions corrupted the Quran — contradicting Allah's own guarantee in the Quran: 'We have sent down the Dhikr and We will preserve it' (15:9). (2) Explicit cursing of Abu Bakr and Umar, who were praised by the Prophet ﷺ. (3) Invocation of dead Imams — shirk according to Athari aqeedah. Note: Ordinary Shia who believe only in Ali's right to caliphate without these extreme positions are considered deviant Muslims within the fold, not kafirs. The label Rafidah applies specifically to those who hold these three positions.

Key Figures

Abdullah ibn Saba (attributed instigator of early Shia fitna)
Al-Kulayni (d. 941 CE — compiler of al-Kafi, the primary Twelver hadith collection)

Sources

Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah (Ibn Taymiyyah)
Al-Bidayah wal-Nihayah (Ibn Kathir)
Siyar A'lam al-Nubala (al-Dhahabi)
Quran 15:9 — preservation of the Quran

Parent Group

Twelver Shia (Ithna Ashari)

Founded

740 CE (122 AH)

Overview

Key Beliefs

Explicit cursing of Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman, and most Companions

Claim that the Companions corrupted the Quran after the Prophet's death

Infallibility and divine knowledge of the twelve Imams

Invocation of dead Imams in du'a (shirk per Athari aqeedah)

Wilayah (guardianship/authority) of Imams as a pillar of faith equal to the shahada

Scholarly Evaluation