Shaykh Abdul Sattar al-Hammad
Hadith Commentary:
1.
In one narration, it is mentioned that Hudhayfah Jundub ibn Abdullah radi Allahu anhu sent a message to As'as ibn Salamah during the rule of Abdullah ibn Zubayr radi Allahu anhu, instructing him to gather those who were stirring up unrest so that he could narrate a hadith to them. Accordingly, the leaders of the Khawarij—namely, Nafi' ibn Azraq, Abu Bilal Mirdas, Najdah, and Salih ibn Mishrah—were gathered, and he narrated the aforementioned hadith before them.
In another narration, when they heard the admonition, they began to weep.
Hudhayfah Jundub radi Allahu anhu said:
If they are truthful, then I have not found anyone more saved than them.
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith 279(97); Fath al-Bari 13/161,162)
In reality, these people were those who stirred up tribulation (fitnah) and appeared to be extremely pious. When they began to weep upon hearing the admonition, he sensed their ostentation and said:
If they are truthful, then they are saved in the sight of Allah.
2.
In any case, these Khawarij shed the blood of Muslims without restraint, committing mass killings of children, women, and people.
According to our inclination, the meaning of the above hadith is that whoever sows discord among the Muslims and chooses a separate path for himself that is other than the path of the believers (sabil al-mu'minin), then on the Day of Resurrection, Allah ta'ala will subject him to severe torment, because in view of the circumstances created by the Khawarij, this meaning is most appropriate.
And Allah knows best.
Source: Hidayat al-Qari: Commentary on Sahih Bukhari, Urdu, Page: 7152