Thus, the Rāfida claim to transmit from the Prophet’s household reports that have no basis. Those who originally fabricated these reports for them were heretics, such as their first leader, 'Abd Allāh ibn Saba', who devised Rāfidism for them. He fabricated the claim that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had explicitly designated 'Alī as caliph, that 'Alī had been wronged and denied his right, and that he was infallible. The heretics’ purpose was to use this as a means of demolishing Islam. Thus, Rāfidism became a gateway to heresy and impiety. The Sabian adherents of philosophy and those who adopt some of their ideas or go beyond them—including the Qarmatians, Nusayrīs, Ismā'īlīs, Hākimīs, and others—enter into heresy and disbelief in the Book, the Messenger, and the laws of Islam only through the gateway of Shiism and Rāfidism.
The Mu'tazila and others like them profess adherence to analogy and reason, and impugn much of what Ahl al-Sunnah wa-l-Jamā'a transmit. They justify this by citing the disagreement already mentioned and similar matters. Some adherents of the religion may even make this a reason to impugn the religion itself and its followers. Thus, some of those who are partisan over these minor matters may be working to demolish Islam’s great foundations.
Section
Once some of the harm arising from this disagreement and division has become clear, we shall explain how it can be removed and what religious duty requires in these disputes. This involves explaining the two principles, namely “the Sunnah and the community”