Abu Dawud

Benefits and Issues:
➊ Those deeds which are not in accordance with faith, sincerity, piety, and the Sunnah, no matter how numerous they may be, have no value in the sight of Allah.

➋ When there is a general political opponent and a religious enemy in confrontation, a Muslim should keep his focus on the religious enemy.

➌ Ali radi Allahu anhu was the rightly guided caliph who made utmost efforts to eradicate the Khawarij.

➍ The meaning of Imam Malik’s statement is that just as Ali radi Allahu anhu repeatedly responded with oaths in front of everyone to clarify a certain reality, this was according to necessity. However, one should not misunderstand from this that it is necessary to answer in such a manner if someone asks about an ordinary matter.

Hadith Commentary:
The Khawarij are meant here—those people who rebelled against Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and, by misapplying Qur’anic verses, stirred up discord among the Muslims.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Ali radi Allahu anhu narrated this hadith at the time when he killed the Khawarij at Nahrawan and saw among them the signs that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had described regarding them. He repeatedly said: "Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam have spoken the truth." (Fath al-Bari: 12/358) In one narration, it is mentioned that if my army knew how much reward there is in killing these people, then in the future they would abandon all other deeds, for killing them alone would suffice for our salvation in the Hereafter. (Sunan Abi Dawud, al-Sunnah, Hadith: 4768) Ubaydah ibn Amr asked Ali radi Allahu anhu: "Did you really hear these things from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?" So he swore by the Lord of the Ka'bah and said: "Yes, I heard them from the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam." Ali radi Allahu anhu would swear an oath when stating this for several reasons: firstly, to manifest the miracle of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam; secondly, because this incident was proof of his being upon the truth; thirdly, to instill confidence in the people. He would also say that fighting these people and erasing them from the face of the earth is the right of every Muslim.

(2)
In another narration, it is further clarified that the Haruriyyah, i.e., the Khawarij, were initially with Ali radi Allahu anhu, but when they said that judgment belongs only to Allah, and then separated from him, Ali radi Allahu anhu said: "These people speak the truth, but they use it for false purposes. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam described the signs of such people, and in light of those, I recognize them well. These people speak the truth with their tongues, but the truth does not go beyond their throats; on this basis, they are the worst of creation." (Sahih Muslim, al-Zakat, Hadith: 2468(1066), and Fath al-Bari: 12/360)

(3)
The intent of Imam Bukhari rahimahullah is that Ali radi Allahu anhu killed the Khawarij and heretics after establishing the proof against them. Similarly, in the future, if such people arise, they should not be killed at the outset; rather, proof should first be established against them, the truth should be clarified, and their doubts should be removed. When they refuse to accept the truth, then it is permissible to kill such people, because their existence can prove dangerous for the propagation and dissemination of the true religion. And Allah knows best.

Hadith Commentary:
They will say, "Follow the Qur'an," and will recite verses of the Qur'an, but will interpret them incorrectly; by this are meant the rejected Khawarij.
When these people emerged, they used to say to Ali (radi Allahu anhu), "Follow the Qur'an."
Allah the Exalted says: ﴿إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلا لِلَّٰهِ﴾ (al-An'am: 57/6)
How have you appointed men as judges? On this basis, they would declare both Mu'awiyah and Ali (radi Allahu anhuma) disbelievers (kafir).
Ali (radi Allahu anhu) said:
"'A word of truth by which falsehood is intended,'" meaning, the verse of the Qur'an is indeed true, but the meaning they have understood from it is incorrect.
All the misguided sects, in their own estimation, bring evidence from the Qur'an, but their misguidance becomes evident from the fact that they do not interpret the Qur'an in the manner transmitted from the Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum), upon whom the Qur'an was revealed and who were the people of the language.
These young boys of yesterday have understood the Qur'an, but the Companions and the Followers (Tabi'in), and even the Prophet himself (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), upon whom the Qur'an was revealed, did not understand it—can this be reasonable?
The same is the condition of the innovators (ahl al-bid'ah) of today, who, in order to establish their false beliefs, present arguments from the verses of the Qur'an and distort the meanings and implications of the Qur'anic verses.
(Wahidi)

Hadith Commentary:
➊
Just as an arrow, after being released from the bow, appears completely clean and clear even after passing through and tearing the prey apart. Although the prey is left wounded, writhing in dust and blood, the arrow, having traversed its distance with great speed, shows no trace of blood or filth on any part of it. In the same way, these people will be far removed from the religion, and with their irreligion, they will grievously wound the body of Islam, yet no effects of irreligion will be visible in them. Outwardly, they will wear the cloak of religiosity and will invite people to follow the Qur’an, reciting its verses, but this Qur’an will not go beyond their throats.

➋
By this prophecy, the Khawarij are meant, and it is an indication towards their fitnah (tribulation) of declaring others disbelievers (takfir). They used to say:
﴿إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلا لِلَّٰهِ﴾ (al-An‘am: 57/6)
“Judgment belongs only to Allah,” but under the guise of this noble verse, they would declare takfir upon Ali (radi Allahu anhu) and Mu‘awiyah (radi Allahu anhu). In response, Ali (radi Allahu anhu) used to say that the Qur’anic verse is indeed based on truth, but it has been given a false interpretation. All the misguided sects bring evidence from the Qur’an according to their own understanding, but when it comes to interpretation, their misguidance becomes apparent. They determine its meanings according to their own desires, which are not transmitted from the pious predecessors (salaf salihin).

In any case, the entry of the Khawarij into the religion and their swift exit from it, such that they gain nothing, is like an arrow entering and then exiting the prey—nothing of blood or filth attaches to it because it traversed its distance with great speed. In the same way, these people exited the religion with great speed.

And Allah is the One whose help is sought.

Hadith Commentary:

Benefits and Issues:
➊ The emergence of the Khawarij has occurred in various eras and will continue to occur in the future. They commit extremism in the name of the Qur’an. In their first emergence, they raised the slogan “Inil hukmu illa lillah” (“The judgment is only for Allah” ) and rebelled against Ali radi Allahu anhu and Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu.

➋ (Al-harbu khud‘ah)
War is a stratagem and a secret tactic.
The group or party that adopts a better stratagem and excellent planning becomes successful. One should never be heedless of the enemy’s stratagem and planning, just as nowadays Muslims, by being heedless of the schemes of the Jews and Hindus, have fallen into their trap.

Hadith Gloss:
Vocabulary of the Hadith:
(1)
al-sarah:
al-sarih,
al-sariha,
grazing livestock.
(2)
nazalani nuzulan:
That is, nazalani manzilan,
he mentioned each and every stopping place.
(3)
qanṭarah:
A bridge whose name was Dabzjan,
where Ali (radi Allahu anhu) delivered an address.
(4)
jufun:
Plural of jufn, meaning sheath.
(5)
wa hawā birimāḥihim,
They threw their spears far so that the swords would serve as a barrier.
(6)
shajarahum al-nās:
The companions of Ali (radi Allahu anhu) attacked them,
and the Khawarij collapsed, falling upon one another.

(1) The relevance of the hadith to the chapter is absolutely clear: whoever raises the sword against the people of Islam is liable to be killed (unless he repents).

(2) This hadith also establishes the rebuke and reprimand of those who take only the apparent meanings of all the noble Qur’an’s verses and the hadiths of the Messenger, and furthermore, that their apparent meanings are contrary to the consensus of Islam.

(3) This hadith also indicates the warning against those who are excessive in religion. Similarly, it teaches us to avoid such forms of worship for which the Shari‘ah has not granted permission, and in which harshness and severity are prominent and dominant, whereas the Shari‘ah brought by the Lawgiver (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is extremely easy, simple, and practicable for every man and woman.

(4) This hadith also shows that being harsh towards disbelievers in opposition to Muslims, and maintaining enmity and hatred towards them, is recommended, rather, necessary.

(5) This hadith is also a great proof of the Prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), in that he informed (by way of revelation) about such people even before their appearance.

(6) If the evils found among the Khawarij are found in people even today, then under the aforementioned conditions, it will be permissible to kill them, and for their killer there will be reward on the Day of Resurrection, provided this is done by a just Imam and the ruler of the time.

(7) The Khawarij are the most filthy and worst innovating sect among the innovating groups of the Ummah of Muhammad.

(8) It is permissible to fight against those who, on the basis of corrupt belief, rebel against the just Imam, wage war against him, and spread evil and corruption in the land, as well as those who commit similar heinous acts. And Allah knows best.

(9) “Young and lacking in intellect”: Generally, in youth, intellect is indeed lacking. Knowledge is not yet mature, emotions are dominant, and experience is not broad, whereas knowledge matures with age, experience, and study. Therefore, a “young” scholar should refrain from issuing legal verdicts (fatwas), especially when his verdicts differ from the majority of the scholars and the people of fatwa. Young and inexperienced people fall into the traps of Satan quickly and become a cause of tribulation in the Ummah. May Allah protect us from that.

(10) “The best among creation”: In the hadiths, two types of wording have appeared: min qawli khayri al-bariyyah and min khayri qawli al-bariyyah. There is a difference in translation, but the result is the same. In the above hadith, the translation is according to the first wording; the translation of the second wording would be: “the best of people’s statements.” By this is meant the Qur’an and hadiths themselves, i.e., they will say the correct thing, but they will misunderstand its meaning. The correct meaning of the Qur’an should be understood with the help of the hadiths, and the correct meaning of the hadiths should be understood with the help of the practice and verdicts of the Companions, otherwise there is a danger of misguidance. And Allah knows best.