Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The hadith scholars (muhaddithin) have considered the Khawarij to be the subject of the aforementioned ahadith.

Khawarij, Linguistic Definition: Khawarij is the plural of "kharij," which is derived from "khuruj" (to go out/rebel). They were given this name due to their rebellion, whether it was rebellion from the religion, rebellion against Ali radi Allahu anhu, or rebellion against the Muslims.

Technical Definition: Imam Shahrastani writes: Every person who rebels against the unanimously agreed-upon Imam of Ahl al-Sunnah wal-Jama‘ah is called a Khariji. This rebellion may occur during the time of the Companions (sahabah) against the Rightly Guided Caliphs, or in the times after them.

Their Various Descriptive Names: Muhakkimah, Mariqah, Nawasib, Ahl Nahrawan, Mukaffirah, Sabi’ah, Shakkakiyyah.

The first religious sect in Islam that, departing from the symbols (sha‘a’ir), formed its own separate group. This group, whose majority consisted of Bedouin Iraqis, first appeared at the time of the Battle of Siffin. These people separated from the army of Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu on the grounds that he had accepted the proposal of arbitration from Sayyiduna Amir Mu‘awiyah radi Allahu anhu. The slogan of the Khawarij was that sovereignty belongs only to Allah. Under the leadership of Shath ibn Rib‘i, they camped at the place of Harura and began propagating their beliefs in Kufa, Basra, Mada’in, etc. Their belief was that appointing a human as a judge in religious matters is disbelief (kufr), and those who accept such decisions are liable to be killed.

According to the belief of the Khawarij, Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu was the rightful caliph. His pledge of allegiance (bay‘ah) was obligatory upon every Muslim. Those who refused it were enemies of Allah and His Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Therefore, Amir Mu‘awiyah radi Allahu anhu and his supporters were to be killed and beheaded. Making any kind of peace with them, according to the Qur’an, was disbelief. Since Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu committed the crime of making peace with them and appointing an arbitrator in the Qur’anic command, his caliphate also became invalid. Therefore, jihad against both Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu and Sayyiduna Amir Mu‘awiyah radi Allahu anhu became obligatory. Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Khawarij in the Battle of Nahrawan. However, their rebellion still persisted. Thus, Sayyiduna Ali was martyred at the hands of a Khariji, Ibn Muljam.

The Khawarij were extremely pious, but due to lack of intelligence, they did not consider anyone besides themselves to be Muslim. They were extremists, declared every sin to be disbelief (kufr), and every sinner to be a disbeliever. As a result, they would often kill Muslims by declaring them disbelievers, while excusing and sparing the disbelievers. Such is always the outcome of extremism; therefore, extremism, violence, and unnecessary hardship have been condemned in Islam.

The outward condition of these people was very good, but as good as their outward appearance was, their inner reality was equally bad. After the issue of arbitration, these people went to the place of Harura. Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu sent Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu to them so that he might advise them and bring them back to obedience to the leader (amir). Due to the advice of Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu, many people separated from them and returned to obedience to the leader, but their leaders and their supporters remained stubborn. Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu himself also went to them, but it had no effect on them. They martyred the Companion of the Messenger, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Khabbab radi Allahu anhu. Then Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu fought a battle with them. The leadership of the Khawarij was in the hands of Abdullah ibn Wahb and Dhu al-Khuwaysirah Harqus ibn Zayd, etc. As a result of this battle, most of the Khawarij were killed. The Khawarij declared Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Uthman, Sayyiduna Talhah, Sayyiduna Zubair, Sayyidah Aisha, and Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas to be disbelievers and eternally in the Fire. They also declared anyone who, despite sharing their beliefs, did not participate in fighting alongside them to be a disbeliever. They held it permissible to kill the children and women of their opponents. They did not accept stoning (rajm). They believed in the eternal punishment in the Fire for the children of polytheists. They also believed that Allah ta‘ala could make someone a prophet even if He knew that this person would later become a disbeliever. They also believed that a prophet, before his prophethood, could—Allah forbid—be a disbeliever. The Khawarij declared the perpetrator of a major sin (murtakib kabirah) to be a disbeliever and eternally in the Fire. For this, they argued from the disbelief of Iblis, saying that he became a perpetrator of a major sin by not prostrating to Sayyiduna Adam alayhis salam, and on this basis he was declared a disbeliever. Thus, they concluded that the perpetrator of a major sin becomes a disbeliever. However, Iblis did not become a disbeliever merely due to committing a major sin, but rather his refusal and arrogance in the face of Allah’s command was the cause of his disbelief.

It is noteworthy that these people were among the most trustworthy (thiqah) narrators in the transmission of hadith. Some of their narrations are counted among the most authentic chains, as Khatib al-Baghdadi has quoted from Imam Abu Dawud that among the innovators, there are no narrations more authentic than those of the Khawarij.

The Khawarij were not among those who deliberately lied. It is even said that their hadiths used to be the most authentic, but due to ignorance, they went astray in their innovation. Their innovation was not based on atheism or zandaqah (heresy), but rather on ignorance and misguidance in understanding the Noble Qur’an.

The reason for this is that lying, which is among the major sins, in their view, not only makes one a sinner, but they would even apply the label of disbelief (kufr) to its perpetrator. Thus, despite their reliability in hadith transmission, the effect of their interpretive and destructive thought and action became the cause of their misguidance, which had already been foretold.

In any case, there is consensus and agreement among the scholars of Islam that the Khawarij, despite their misguidance, are a sect of the Muslims. It is permissible to marry them, eat their slaughtered animals, and accept their testimony. No scholar has declared them disbelievers, though they were certainly rebels.