Al-Dhahabi says in the biography of Aban ibn Taghlib al-Kufi: "He is a zealous Shi'i, but he is truthful, so we accept his truthfulness, and his innovation is upon him." Is the zealous Shi'i a Rafidi?
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The questioner : The Shaykh says: Al-Dhahabi, in *Mizan al-I'tidal*, in the biography of Aban ibn Taghlib al-Kufi, says about him: "He is a zealous Shi'i, but he is truthful, so we accept his truthfulness, and his innovation is upon him". Here, al-Hafiz al-Dhahabi, in *al-Mizan*, when he says: "A truthful, zealous Shi'i", does that mean he is a Rafidi?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes, well, is the Rafidi not declared a disbeliever because of his innovation?
The Shaykh : The Rafidi has two definitions, old and new. The Rafidi in the old sense is the one who exaggerates in preferring 'Ali over the first caliphs.
As for the Shi'i, he is content with preferring 'Ali while acknowledging the validity of the caliphate of Abu Bakr and 'Umar. Yes.
So if he is described as: a zealous Shi'i, it does not mean he is a Rafidi who declares the caliphs disbelievers and slanders the Lady 'A'ishah.
The questioner : So his saying: "a zealous Shi'i" is different from the Rafidi.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Yes, well, is the Rafidi not declared a disbeliever because of his innovation?
The Shaykh : The Rafidi has two definitions, old and new. The Rafidi in the old sense is the one who exaggerates in preferring 'Ali over the first caliphs.
As for the Shi'i, he is content with preferring 'Ali while acknowledging the validity of the caliphate of Abu Bakr and 'Umar. Yes.
So if he is described as: a zealous Shi'i, it does not mean he is a Rafidi who declares the caliphs disbelievers and slanders the Lady 'A'ishah.
The questioner : So his saying: "a zealous Shi'i" is different from the Rafidi.
The Shaykh : Yes.