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The term Rafida (رافضة) is a derogatory nickname used by Sunni Muslims to describe the majority of Shia Muslims, that is, those of them who 'reject' the legitimacy of the early Muslim caliphs in favor of Ali Ibn Abi Talib, the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Rooted in early Islamic history, the term Rafida is still used in Sunni polemics against Shi'ism. The charge that Shias have rejected the Truth is frequently cited by Sunni extremists to justify their acts of violence against the Shia community. This nickname has been reinterpreted favorably by some Shia scholars to signify Shias' rejection of their oppressive Sunni rulers.

Definition
The term Rafida or Rawafid (lit. 'those who reject', Rafidi) is a derogatory nickname used by Sunni Muslims to describe Shia Muslims, at least those of them who 'reject' the legitimacy of the first three Muslim caliphs, namely, Abu Bakr ((r. 632 – 634)), Umar ((r. 634 – 644)), and Uthman ((r. 644 – 656)). One after another, these caliphs succeeded the Islamic prophet Muhammad after he died in 632 CE. In particular, this nickname is applied to Twelvers, who constitute the overwhelming majority of the Shia community. Twelvers believe that, shortly before he died in 632 CE, Muhammad publicly designated his cousin and son-in-law, Ali ibn Abi Talib, as his successor at the Ghadir Khumm. The early caliphs thus usurped Ali's right. Twelvers also believe that Ali was succeeded by eleven of his descendants. Rooted in early Islamic history, the term Rafida is still used in Sunni polemics, but has also been reinterpreted favorably by some Shia scholars to signify 'rejection' of all tyranny and the Shia struggle against their oppressive Sunni rulers. Less commonly, the term Rafida has been applied to other Shia sects, such as the Ghulat (lit. 'exaggerators' or 'extremists'), who ascribed divinity to Shia imams.

Context
By eleventh century, the Shia status as "rejectors of the Truth" was canonized by Hanbali scholars, who did not grant Islamic rights to Shia Muslims: They were not to be married with, meat slaughtered by them was not  halal (permissible), and they could not lead prayers. With the fall of Abbasids in 1258, such attacks on Shi'ism intensified. They are labeled today as infidels or heretics by Salafi and Wahhabi scholars, considered a bigger threat to Islam than Christianity and Judaism, and there are frequent calls for their extermination. On these grounds, the Islamic State, al-Qaeda, and other Sunni extremist groups have justified their acts of violence against the Shia community. A popular reference for these groups is the prominent Hanbali theologian Ibn Taymiyya, a staunch anti-Shia who also accused the Shia of conspiring with nonbelievers to destroy Islam from within. In Saudi Arabia, where Wahhabism is the state religion, schoolbooks referred to Shias as the Rafida until 1993. They are still openly denounced in Saudi schoolbooks and state-sponsored media.

Origins
Origins of the term Rafida is uncertain. Perhaps the term is linked with the desertion of the Shia rebel Zayd ibn Ali ( CE) by some Kufan Shias, after the former refused to denounce the first two caliphs. They thus 'rejected' Zayd and became known as the Rafida. Zayd's rebellion was subsequently suppressed by the Umayyads and he was killed. Rather than the rejection of Zayd, more likely the term Rafida historically signified the rejection of the first three caliphs by most Shias.

Over time, the term Rafida became a popular pejorative for Imamite Shias, that is, the majority of the Shia community, known today as the Twelvers. For Sunnis, the term signified the rejection of the first three caliphs, whom Twelvers count among infidels for allegedly usurping Ali ibn Abi Talib's right to succeed Muhammad. Alternatively, for Zaydi Shias, who follow Zayd's teachings, the term denoted the rejection of Zayd by early Imamites.

Rafida in Sunni tradition
The term Rafida appears in some Islamic traditions of dubious authenticity. In one such tradition, Muhammad predicts the emergence of a group that would reject (yarfuduna) Islam. In another one, he orders Ali ibn Abi Talib to kill the Rafida for they are polytheists. Elsewhere, the Rafida, who are allegedly similar to Jews, are blamed for introducing into Islam the concept of anthropomorphism (tashbih), which is allegedly a hallmark of Judaism.

Rafida in Shia tradition
Even though the term Rafida is intended as an abusive nickname, there are traditions, attributed to Shia imams, that reinterpret this term favorably. In one such tradition, Rafida are identified as a small group among the people of Pharaoh who rejected his rule, undaunted by his threats of punishment. This might be a reference to verses 7:120–126 and 20:70–75 of the Quran, the central text of Islam. The term Rafida even reportedly appeared in the original Torah, which has since been falsified, according to the Quran.