Critical Research on the Significance of the Expression ‎‎" Al-Khulafā ul-Rāshidūn" in Shia and Sunni ‎Traditions

Examining the history of the expression "Al-Khulafā ul-Rāshidūn" in Sunni ýand Shii sources, this research discovered that expressionth is more ýprevalent in Sunni resources. In other words it is more used among Sunni ýscholars, because most of them have used it for their sectarian interests and ýhave built many of their beliefs on it. Today’s meaning of the word intended ýby Shia and Sunni scholars ,the four caliphs ; Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman and ýAmir al-Muminīn Aliþ þwas not common at the time of caliphate. The origin ýof this term goes back to a narration from the Prophet that its only narrator ýis Erabz ibn Sariah and in other periods due to the sectarian and expedient ýcontent, its number has increasedþ þwhile almost most of them are from ýamong as the enemies of Imam Ali and Ahlul-Bayt.ýþ þThis paper through ýcritical review seeks the correct examples of the term according to the Sunni ýand Shia sources and challenge the well-known idea in this regard. ýMoreover, it expresses the use of this term in Sunni sources upon which ýsome of their principled or jurisprudential views are based is rooted in a ýfake jadith.