We will enlighten our readers by citing the following Sunni sources:
1. Al-Ghunyat liTalibin, Volume 1 page 409
2. Fathul Bari Sharh Sahih Bukhari Volume 14 page 450 Chapter 9
3. website by Safar al-Hawali
Salafi scholar namely Safar bin Abdul-Rahman al-Hawali has written on his website:
الرافضة هم الذين رفضوا خلافة الشيخين أبي بكر وعمر وزعموا أن الخلافة في علي
“Rafidha are those who reject the Khilafa of Abu Bakr and Umar and claim that Ali is the Khalifa”
http://www.alhawali.com/index.
Fatah ul Bari:
والتشيع محبة علي وتقديمه على الصحابة فمن قدمه على أبي بكر وعمر فهو غال في تشيعه ويطلق عليه رافضي
“Shiasm is the love of Ali and whoever prefers him over Abu Bakr and Umar is an excessive Shia also known as Rafidhi”
Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani writes in his esteemed work Al-Ghunya li-Talibin (Published by Al-Baz Publishing, Inc. Hollywood, Florida):
“As for the Shia, they are also known by several other names including Rafida. They came to be called Shia for the simple reason that they relied to support the cause of Ali and considered him superior to all of the rest of the companions. The Rafida were so called because of their rejection [Rafd] of the majority of the companions and their refusal to accept the imamate of Abu Bakar and Umar.”
This establishes the reason why we are called Rafidhi, one who abandons the Shaykhayn is a Rafidhi.
Ibn Aqeel al-Hadhrami al-Shafiy’ee records in his authority work al al-Atab al-Jameel ala ahl al-Jarh wa al-Tadeel, page 33:
“According to Ibn Hajr Asqalani, all those lovers of Ali that deem him to be superior to Abu Bakr and Umar are Rafidhi. The conclusion of Ibn Hajr’s research would be that many major Sahaba, such as Miqdad, Zaid bin Arqam, Abu Dharr and Burhaida, the Banu Hashim and Banu Abdul Muttalib are Rafidhi, since they were his lovers and deemed him superior to Abu Bakr and Umar”.
Fakhruddin al-Razi Tafseer al-Kabeer Volume 13 page 433 as well as Ibn Hajjar Makki have recorded the statement of Imam of Ahl’ul Sunnah Muhammad Idris Shafi’yee:
وقال الشافعي رضي الله عنه ۔۔۔۔ إن كان رفضاً حب آل محمد فليشهد الثقلان أنى رافضي
Shafi’yee (ra) said: “If a Rafidhi is one who loves the family of the Prophet (s), then I testify before the mankind and Jinns that I am a Rafidhi”
Sawaiq al Muhriqah, page 449 & 450 (Faisalabad, Pakistan)
Alhamdolillah we the lovers of Maula Ali (as) feel no offence at being called Shi’a or termed Rafidhi.
We read in Sharh Fiqh Akbar page 63 Dhikr ‘Afzaal al Naas badh al Nabi’:
“A Sunni scholar said if we believe ‘Ali to be superior it is not due to any basis rather believing that ‘Ali is superior is compulsory since his virtues are many.
One individual raised an objection, one who deems ‘Ali as superior has smell of Rafidhi. Another said ‘This is a lie, that this smell of Rafdiyat (Rafidhism), if we accept the superiority of ‘Ali smells of Rafdiyath from the Sunnah, then Sunni traditions will leave no one as a Sunni, rather everyone is a Rafidhi. Do not fight in the Deen, nor abandon the truth”
We appeal to justice, all the injustices that have perpetuated against ‘Ali (as) and his Shi’a will be asked of by these Nawasib on the Day of Judgement. It is a miracle that despite their strenuous efforts to bring down the Fadail (attributes and virtues) of Maula ‘Ali, the Ahl’ul Sunnah Ulema have constantly deemed our Imam (as) as most superior.