Rafida

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Rafida (رافضة, /rɑːfid̪ˤa/; pl. Rawafid) is an Arabic collective noun which means "turncoats", "defectors", "dissenters", or "deserters". The word is derived from the Arabic verb root ر ف ض, which can mean "to reject". It is an Islamic term which refers in a derogatory way to those who, in the opinion of the person using the term, reject legitimate Islamic authority and leadership.

[edit] Usage

In past times, the term was used by some Shi'a Muslims to refer to other Shi'a who refused to follow Zayd ibn Ali.^{[citation needed]} It is thought that the usage of the term came from Zayd ibn Ali himself who exclaimed, "You have abandoned me (rafadtumuni)", to his own followers who had retracted their oath of allegiance to him.^[1]

It was also used by some Sunni Muslims, particularly Hanbali Sunni, as a pejorative term for Shi'a Muslims,^[2] who were considered "refusers" because they refused to give allegiance to Abu Bakr, or refused to recognize the authority of Sunni caliphs. Currently, the word rafida, and also the Arabic non-collective singular form rafidi (رافضي), appear to be used as derogatory terms for Shi'as by Sunnis who refuse to accept Shi'a Islam as being a valid form of Islam.^{[citation needed]} It would seem to be used primarily by Salafis, but it is possible that it is used by other groups.^[who?]

It is a term used for Shi'ite Muslims, as opposed to Sunni Muslims, who reject (rafd) the Caliphate (Khilafah) of Muhammad's two successors Abu Bakr and 'Umar.

Many Muslim scholars state^{[citation needed]} that the term Rafidah cannot be applied to the whole of the Shi'ite branch of Islam, but only to those among them who believe in the divine right of 'Ali to succeed Muhammad. Therefore, Zaydi Shi'ites are not included within the term "Rafidi".