al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawqifuhu min al-Rafida

al-Imam al-Shafi'i wa-Mawqifuhu min al-Rafida (Imam al-Shafi'i and His Stance on the Rafida) is a theological treatise by Abu Abd al-Barr Muhammad Kawa compiling classical reports that document the rulings and doctrinal positions of al-Shafi'i (150–204 AH / 767–820 CE) regarding the Rafida and the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….

Context and Purpose

The treatise was completed on 10 October 2011 in Morocco al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq…. It was conceived as an installment in a wider series examining the stances of the four Sunni imams toward the Rafida, which the author began with his work al-Imam Malik wa-Mawqifuhu min al-Rafida (Imam Malik and His Stance on the Rafida) al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….

Structure and Contents

The booklet is arranged into ten chapters (abwab) centered on theological and juridical statements attributed to al-Shafi'i:

1. Chapter One: Deals with the characterization of the Rafida as the most mendacious of sects, highlighting al-Shafi'i's statements rejecting their legal testimony and their propensity for false witness, with a specific mention of the Khattabiyya faction among them al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
2. Chapter Two: Covers the ruling on praying behind the Rafida, citing al-Shafi'i's instruction not to pray behind a Rafidi, a Qadari, or a Murji'i, alongside his definition of a Rafidi as one who denies the imamate of Abu Bakr and Umar al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
3. Chapter Three: Details descriptions of the Rafida and censures their doctrines, recording a ruling reported by al-Hasan ibn Muhammad al-Za'farani that denies a Rafidi any share of fay' (state revenue/booty), and citing al-Shafi'i's remarks on those who defame the Companions al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
4. Chapter Four: Gathers reports on the consensus of the Companions concerning the legitimate caliphate and superiority of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
5. Chapter Five: Presents reports on the consensus of the Companions and Successors regarding the precedence and excellence of Abu Bakr, followed by Umar ibn al-Khattab al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
6. Chapter Six: Details al-Shafi'i's creed regarding the hierarchical order of merit among the Companions, placing Abu Bakr first, then Umar, then Uthman, and then Ali al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
7. Chapter Seven: Discusses al-Shafi'i's creed concerning the alignment between the order of the caliphate and individual merit al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
8. Chapter Eight: Identifies the four Rightly Guided Caliphs (al-Khulafa' al-Rashidun) in Sunni doctrine al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
9. Chapter Nine: Records reports from al-Shafi'i designating the Umayyad caliph Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz as the fifth caliph alongside the four early successors al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq….
10. Chapter Ten: Prohibits the disparagement of the Companions or involvement in the civil conflicts that occurred between them, closing with counsels al-Shafi'i gave to his disciple al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman and poetic verses transmitted by al-Muzani and al-Rabi' al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq…+1.

Method and Sources

The author relies on direct chains of transmission and reports passed down through al-Shafi'i's primary students and contemporaries, including al-Buwayti, al-Rabi' ibn Sulayman, Harmala ibn Yahya, Yunus ibn Abd al-A'la, and Abu Thawr al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq…+2. Each report is footnoted with citations to classical biographical, hadith, and theological works, including al-Bayhaqi's Manaqib al-Shafi'i and al-I'tiqad, Ibn Abi Hatim's Adab al-Shafi'i wa-Manaqibuh, al-Lalaka'i's Sharh Usul I'tiqad Ahl al-Sunna, Abu Nu'aym al-Isfahani's Hilyat al-Awliya', and Ibn Taymiyya's Minhaj al-Sunna al-Nabawiyya al-Imam al-Shafii wa Mawq…+2.