Rafiq

A Rafik (or Rafiq) is a graduated scholar of the Assassins in the second tier of the caste system (the Assassins being on top). Within the game, they provide information on where to acquire knowledge about targets and determine whether or not Altaïr is well-educated enough to perform an assassination. They are usually located in a Assassin's Bureau, other Dai's and Rafiq's can be found in Masyaf, though these Dai's and Rafiq's do not help you.

Role
In one of his conversations with Malik at the Assassin's Bureau in Jerusalem, Altaïr addresses Malik as "dai" (during the Majd Addin assignment). The dais are the direct representatives of the Imam, who is the exalted spiritual leader of the people. This means that Malik was made a dai after he pulled off the task that Altaïr failed to accomplish in the beginning. In the beginning of the story in the cut-out scene under the Temple, Altaïr states that he is of a higher rank than Malik. Altaïr is a Master Assassin and a field Instructor, which means that Malik is not yet a dai. While devising a plan on how to approach Al Mualim, Malik refers to Altaïr as dai (Al Mualim assassination) showing that he obtained the rank once giving the piece of eden to Al Mualim. The Bureau leaders in Acre and Damascus are rafiqs. That is not their name but their rank. A rafiq is a first level instructor just beneath a dai. Initially they are teachers and field contacts that provided Altaïr with where and when to best strike. But after Altaïr's major failure, Al Mualim places him under the entire Assassin's Order. This results in rafiqs obtaining authoritative power over Altaïr. Rafiqs are then authorized to grant or deny the carrying out of a Assassination Contract, if Altaïr does not posess what they feel is enough information on the target. Once Altaïr has properly learned where and when the target will be, he is granted permission to perform the strike, but only after receiving the assassination feather marker. Rafiqs are also responsible for documenting information about the assassinations success, but also the information that the informers stationed around the cities have obtained. The informers seem to be under the authority of the rafiqs and answer to them. This is noted in how rafiqs seem to always have knowledge of the targets occupation and the area most occupied by them. But because rafiqs can't leave the bureau, informers gather information in the field and report back. With this information rafiqs direct Altair in the directions of where best to begin his search. Each of them has a particular skill or talent which he may teach in addition to teaching philosophy, the Quran, and The Creed. Malik is a cartographer, or map maker. One of the rafiqs is a potter (Damascus) and the other is a scholar/scribe (Acre). Their given names are never said. They are only called rafiq as a title of respect.

The higher level teachers (Instructors) at Masyaf (Al Mualim's Library) are those who wear the white robes with a black djellaba and red decorative markings. They more than likely are the teachers who provide in depth education on philosophy and the politics of the world. Providing such knowledge educates and molds out to the assassin students how and why it is that a single assassination strike could change the land and affect history. Instructors probably help assassins better understand why their work is so important in maintaining peace. Al Mualim also wears this attire except his is all black, marking him as Master of the Assassins Order.

Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles
Altaïr encounters a Rafiq during his visit to Damascus. He is an old, nasty man and first challenges Altaïr in order to determine if he is enough trained. In his adventures, Altaïr also meets other Rafiqs (like Hamid) as well.

Assassin's Creed
There are three Rafiqs in three different cities (Damascus, Acre, Jerusalem). The Rafiq of Jerusalem is Malik, while the other two were not given any names

Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines
Rafiqs do not really appear in the game, instead key Resistance members act similarly to Rafiqs and are situated in Safe Houses, not Assassin Bureaus.