Evolution of Rafidha

[Muhammad Tazin]

We have came to known that,Self-proclaimed  "Shia of AhluBayt" started to Known as Rafidi, when Zayd bin Ali(r) defined/labeled them.
But here I see, they have presented some narrations , to prove that  "Rafidhi were before Zayd", "Lovers of ali are Rafidhi" :-
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وما ذاك الاسم ؟ »، قال: سمّانا الرافضة، فقال عليه السلام: « وأنا من الرافضة وهو مني » قالها ثلاثاً ـ ( المحاسن:157 / ح 91 ).

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- وهذا الإطلاق أيضاًً في نفس التاريخ المتقدم وهو من إطلاق معاويه أيضاًً ولكن بنسب الروافض إلى علي (ع) حيث قال : إن علي بن أبي طالب قد إجتمع إليه رافضة أهل الحجاز وأهل اليمن والبصرة والكوفه وقد وجه إلينا رسوله جرير بن عبدالله ولم أجبه على هذا النقل يكون الرافضه هم إتباع علي بن أبي طالب.

الإطلاق الثالث في زمن الإمام الباقر <ع> وما قبله : فقد نقل صاحب البحار هذه الرواية بأن رجلا قال للإمام الباقر

المجلسي - بحار الأنوار - الجزء : ( 65 ) - رقم الصفحة : ( 97 )

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more:- http://www.imamreza.net/arb/imamreza.php?id=3201
http://www.yahosein.com/vb/showthread.php?t=126535

Others, ShiaPen made a pack named "THE SHI'A OF ALI AND THEIR APPRAISAL", there are several funny attempts, in trying to praise Shia from Quran, like - all prophets had SHia, were Shia of previous Prophets etc.
In a part of it, they wrote this-
Mulla Ali Qari’s acknowledgement if those that deem Ali superior are Rafidhi then we are all 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”

[Farid]

I dont think that anything is as famous as reliable as the story of Zaid. Some Shias will perhaps even say that they were known as Rafidha from the time of the Prophet. It won't mean anything to us.

[Hani]

I had collected some of the narrations of Zayd arguing and fighting with the cowardly Rafidah and labeling them as such. (Hint, it's all in Tareekh Dimashq)

[Husayn]

If they want to use such fabricated narrations than we can just counter with these:

http://islam.stackexchange.com/questions/16275/hadith-authenticity-regarding-rafidah-sunni-view-only

[Abdullah Efendi]

This one
وما ذاك الاسم ؟ »، قال: سمّانا الرافضة، فقال عليه السلام: « وأنا من الرافضة وهو مني » قالها ثلاثاً ـ

Is weak per shia standards. Abu Jarud in the chain.

[Muhammad Tazin]

Jazakallahkum khairan brothers for assisting.
So, we can say that, Shia websites are using Weak Narrations to fight the "Zaid bin Ali nararation" .
And, yes, when I have given Sunni ahadith on "rafidhi will go to hell", "fight them" etc., Shia became speechless!
BUt what they're are trying best is to prove anyway that , Rafidha word was used in the earlier era , from "SHIA narrations" [quiet afraid of claiming from Sunni ahadith now  ]

[Rationalist]

The first group of Rafidah were the Kaysaniyya. They then split into sect differing who the imam of the time was. As for 12er Shia they are a biddah which occurred way after. Also, according to the 12er Shia own belief Rafidi believes supposedly were secretly revealed by the 5th imam onwards.