The second level comprises the Rāfiḍah, well-known groups such as the Imāmiyyah (1) and others: they hold that ʿAlī is the rightful imam after the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—by virtue of a clear or hidden textual designation; that he was wronged and deprived (2) of his due; and they hate Abū Bakr and ʿUmar and revile them. According to the leading scholars, what distinguishes the Rāfiḍah (3) is precisely their hatred of Abū Bakr and ʿUmar and their abuse of them.
The third level consists of the mufaddilah among the Zaydīs (4) and others: they give preference to ʿAlī over Abū (5) Bakr and ʿUmar, yet they still affirm the two shaykhs’ leadership, uphold their integrity, and profess loyalty toward them. Although this view is unsound, various groups of jurists and ascetics have been associated with it. Its adherents are not so close to the preceding group; rather, they are nearer to Ahl al-Sunnah than to the Rāfiḍah, for they contend with the Rāfiḍah over the imamate, integrity, and allegiance owed to the two shaykhs, while they dispute with Ahl al-Sunnah only about the two shaykhs’ superiority over ʿAlī—the first dispute being the graver. Nevertheless, they (6) are the rung (7) by which the Rāfiḍah ascend; they serve as a doorway for them.