💯 Miscellaneous benefits from Yemen

BENEFIT 11: IMPORTANT FACTS ON RAFDHISM 1. How did Rafidhism start? Sheikhul Islam raḥimahullāh said: ''The people of knowledge have mentioned that Rafdhism began with the heretic (zindīq), 'Abdullāh ibn Saba'; the one who pretended to be a Muslim outwardly, although he was actually a Jew inwardly.'' [Majmū' Al-Fatāwā (28/483)] Similarly, Al-Ājurrī raḥimahullāh said: '' 'Abdullāh ibn Saba' pretended to be a Muslim. He portrayed an image of one who commanded with good and forbade evil until he gained a following in the various regions (of the Islamic state). Thereafter he began criticising the rulers, then 'Uthman radhiyāhu 'anhu, then Abū Bakr and 'Umar radhiyāhu 'anhumā, then he pretended to show loyalty and allegiance to 'Ali radhiyāhu 'anhu.'' [Ash-Sharee'ah (4/1979)] Note: the Rafidha are also known as As-Saba'iyyah (an ascription to their founder, 'Abdullāh ibn Saba') 2. When does a person become a Rafidhi? Adh-Dhahabi cited in 'Siyar A'lām An-Nubalā' (10/31) that: ''Al-Buwaiṭī said, I asked Ash-Shāfi'ī, can I pray behind a Rafidhi? He replied, Don't pray behind a Rafidhi, nor a Qadari, nor a Murji'ī! I said, describe them to us. He (Ash-Shāfi'ī) said: Whoever says Īmān is merely speech (i.e. testification) is a Murji', whoever says Abū Bakr and 'Umar are not the (true) leaders is a Rafidhi, and whoever attributes mash'īah (Will) to himself is a Qadari. '' Al-Ḥāfidh (Ibn Ḥajar) mentioned in the introduction to Al-Fat-ḥ (p. 646) that: ''Shi'ism relates to loving 'Ali and favouring him over the Ṣaḥābah, but if one favours Ali over Abu Bakr and Umar in particular then he is an extreme Shi'i; also known as a Rafidhi. And if this is coupled with insult and explicit hatred, then he is an extreme Rafidhi...'' 3. Why are they called Rafidha? Sheikh Muqbil raḥimhullāh said: '' The Rafidha (rejectors) are those who rejected Zaid Ibn 'Ali; because when they asked him concerning Abū Bakr and 'Umar he sought mercy for them. So they said, we reject you, and he responded to them: Go! For you are the Rafidha (rejectors).'' [Ilḥād Al-Khumaini P.41] 4. Did 'Ali (radhiyllahu 'anhu) condone the Rafidha? Sheikhul Islam raḥimhullāh said: ''It is reported from 'Ali with sound chains of narration that he said: 'No one who favours me over Abū Bakr and 'Umar is brought to me except that I will lash them the lashing of a false claimant/ slanderor (Ḥadd Al-Muftari).'' [Majmū' Al-Fatāwā (28/474)] It is also reported through various chains that ('Ali radhiyallahu anhu) said while on the pulpit in Kufa: ''The best from this ummah after its prophet is Abū Bakr and 'Umar.'' [the same source as above]