Question: What is the Islamic ruling concerning the Rāfiḍah, and how should we interact with them?
Shaykh Rabīʿ ibn Hādī ʿUmayr al-Madkhalī (d. 1447 AH/2025 CE) ؒ answered:
I assume that the questioner distinguishes between laypeople and others, and this is a sound distinction. The laypeople among the Rāfiḍah who do not slander the Prophet’s wives, do not declare the Companions disbelievers and do not believe that the Qurʾān has been distorted, yet hold some elements of rafḍ (الرفض, rejection) and some hatred of the Companions without declaring any of them disbelievers, and similar things, are misguided innovators whom we do not declare disbelievers.
As for someone who joins their disbelievers by declaring the Companions disbelievers, slandering and defaming the Prophet’s wives, and holding the filthy belief that the Qurʾān has been distorted through additions and omissions, he is a disbeliever like the Jews, Christians and other disbelievers. There is no distinction between their scholars and laypeople who hold these beliefs.
Interact with them in worldly affairs, such as trade and similar matters. It is permissible to deal with Jews, Christians and a Rāfiḍī. As for cooperating with them in religious matters, never! That would be cooperation in sin and transgression.
References
Al-Madkhalī, Rabīʿ ibn Hādī ʿUmayr (d. 1447 AH/2025 CE). Answer concerning ordinary adherents of the Rāfiḍah and dealings with them, Rabee.net, fatwā no. 35.
