[Why the Rāfiḍah were so named] (132)

They were called Rāfiḍah only because they rejected Abū Bakr and ʿUmar, and none of the other sectarian groups did so. Those who are less extreme are the Shīʿah, who prefer ʿAlī (133) over ʿUthmān while still affirming loyalty to Abū Bakr and ʿUmar. The Rāfiḍah, however, show excessive devotion to ʿAlī; some of them went so far with him (134) as the Christians did with the Messiah. These are the Sabābah (135), the followers of ʿAbd Allāh ibn Sabaʾ (136). About them al-Himyari said:

A people went to extremes for ʿAlī—may they have no fathers—
who wore themselves out with toil in loving him. ⦗7/a⦘
They claimed, “He is God—exalted is God, our Creator—
far above being anyone’s son or anyone’s father.”

ʿAlī burned them with fire (137).

Among the Rāfiḍah was al-Mughīrah ibn Saʿd, the client of Bajīlah (138). Al-Aʿmash (139) said: “I went in to see al-Mughīrah ibn Saʿd and asked him about the merits of ʿAlī. He said, ‘You will not be able to bear them.’ I replied, ‘Indeed I will.’ He mentioned Adam, saying, ‘ʿAlī is better than he,’ then went through the prophets beneath him, saying, ‘ʿAlī is better than them,’ until he came to Muḥammad ﷺ and said, ‘ʿAlī is his equal.’ I retorted, ‘You have lied—may Allah’s curse be upon you!’ He replied, ‘I told you that you could not bear it.’”

Some Rāfiḍah claim that ʿAlī is in the clouds; whenever a cloud passes over them they say, “Peace be upon you, Abū al-Ḥasan.” One poet (140)(141) has alluded to this:

I have disowned the Khārijites—I am not one of them,
not of al-Ghazzāl among them, nor of Ibn Bāb. (142)
Nor am I of a folk who, when ʿAlī is mentioned,
return salutations to the cloud.
But with my whole heart I love—and I know this is the right way—
the Messenger of Allah and the Truthful One indeed. (145)
Through him I hope tomorrow for a gracious reward. (143)(144)