Section: The Enemies of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and Guided Imams

The four Rightly Guided Caliphs were tried by the hostility of some who professed Islam and belonged to the people of the qiblah: they cursed them, hated them, and declared them unbelievers. Abū Bakr and ‘Umar were hated and cursed by the Rāfidah (Rejectionists), unlike the other sects.

For this reason, Imam Ahmad was asked, “Who is a Rāfidī?” He replied, “Someone who reviles Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.” This is how the Rāfidah acquired their name: they rejected Zayd ibn ‘Alī when he affirmed his loyalty to the two caliphs, Abū Bakr and ‘Umar, because they hated them. Thus, someone who hates them is a Rāfidī. It has also been said that they were called Rāfidah because they rejected Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.

“The origin of rejectionism” lies with hypocritical heretics. It was invented by the heretic Ibn Saba’, who openly promoted excess concerning ‘Alī by claiming the imamate for him, asserting that he had been explicitly designated for it, and claiming that he was infallible. Since its beginnings lay in hypocrisy, some of the early generations said, “Love for Abū Bakr and ‘Umar is faith, and hatred of them is hypocrisy; love for the clan of Hāshim is faith, and hatred of them is hypocrisy.”

‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd said, “Love for Abū Bakr and ‘Umar and recognition of their merit are part of the Sunnah.” That is, they are part of the religious law of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, which people are commanded to follow. For he said:

“Follow the example of the two who come after me: Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.”

Recognizing their superiority over those who came after them is therefore obligatory, and it is impermissible to withhold judgment on this. The case of ‘Uthmān and ‘Alī is different: there are two views on whether it is permissible to withhold judgment concerning their relative merit. Likewise, is it permissible to exercise independent judgment in preferring ‘Alī over ‘Uthmān? There are two reported positions:

(The first is that this is impermissible. Whoever prefers ‘Alī over ‘Uthmān has departed from the Sunnah into religious innovation by opposing the consensus of the Companions. For this reason, it has been said, “Whoever gives ‘Alī precedence over ‘Uthmān has indeed