Thank you very much for your reply to my questions. I still need some clarifications: Do Shī‘ī consider the 1st three caliphs (Khulafā-i Rāshidūn), Ḥaḍrat ‘Ā’ishah (rta) and Ḥaḍrat Ḥafṣah (rta) amongst enemies of God. And do they consider curse them a virtue?
Answer
The Shī‘ī do not consider the first three caliphs Khulafā legitimate and consider them usurpers to the right of Ali (ra) who only believe to be the only legitimate and divinely appointed caliph. Because of this they consider the three Khulafā as those who did not follow the order of the Prophet about Ali (ra). As for ‘Ā’ishah (rta), because of her involvement in the battle of Jamal and because of some other historical Aḥādīth, generally Shī‘ī consider her as one who had enmity with Ali (ra) and his family (Ra-hom). However, there is less sensitivity about Ḥafṣah (rta).
As for whether the Shī‘ī consider it a rewarding virtue to curse the above personalities, I would say that, cursing the first three caliphs Khulafā and in particular the first two is not unusual. This, however, varies among the Shī‘ī. There are Shī‘ī minorities who are more moderate in this regard and do not curse; there are another bigger minority who are on the other extreme and curse these personalities on a regular basis to earn reward. The majority do not mind cursing them but also do not do it on a regular basis.
One of the popular supplications that the Shī‘ī read is called ZiarahAshura. This is a Ziarah in which the Shī‘ī say salām to Hussain (rta). The Ziarah is generally considered as very reliable and a regular reading of it is recommended. At the end of this Ziarah there is a sentence that says:
O God let the first oppressor to be specifically cursed by me and start (this cursing) with him as the first one. Then (curse) the second and the third and the forth. Oh God curse Yazid as the fifth one and …”
It is generally believed that the first to fourth in the above refer to the first three Khulafā and Mu’āwiyah (rta).
