Written by: Mawlānā Zāhid al-Rāshidī
The first sect to emerge within the Muslim Ummah that deliberately disregarded the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the practice of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم), attempting to understand the Qur’an purely based on their personal reasoning, was the group known as the Khawārij.
The Prophet ﷺ had foretold their emergence, stating that these individuals would recite the Qur’an abundantly, and their worship would amaze the common believers, yet the Qur’an would not pass beyond their throats. Instead, they would misguide others in the name of the Qur’an.
According to Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, during the distribution of the spoils of war after the Battle of Ḥunayn, a man named Dhul-Khuwayṣirah objected to the Prophet ﷺ and accused him of not being just in his distribution.
Upon this, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and Khālid ibn al-Walīd (رضي الله عنهما) sought permission to kill him, but the Prophet ﷺ forbade it. He then prophesied that from the descendants of this man would arise people who, despite excessive worship, would deviate from religion as an arrow passes cleanly through the target.
During the Battle of Ṣiffīn, when Muʿāwiyah (رضي الله عنه) proposed arbitration, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) accepted it.
However, six thousand individuals from his own army, mostly from Banū Tamīm, rejected this decision and gathered at Ḥarūrā’, appointing ʿAbdullāh ibn Wahb al-Rāsī as their leader. Due to this separation, they came to be known as “Khawārij.”
In Ṣafar 38 AH, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) fought the Khawārij at Nahrawān and defeated them.
However, this group did not vanish. They continued to emerge at various points in history and even established political control, such as the Rustamid State in 144 AH, which lasted until 296 AH when it was dismantled by the Fāṭimids.
On ʿAlī’s instruction, he engaged the Khawārij in dialogue and answered their three core objections:
Engaged in rational discussion with two Khawārij representatives and demonstrated how their ideology conflicted with the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the understanding of the Companions. One of the delegates, a man from Habasha, was moved by the truth and repented, joining ʿUmar’s side.
When Ḍaḥḥāk, a leader of the Khawārij, seized control of Kūfah, Imām Abū Ḥanīfah was arrested. Through his wisdom and diplomacy, he convinced them not only theologically, but also prevented mass bloodshed among the Muslims of Kūfah.
The Khawārij misinterpreted the Qur’an based on their narrow understanding, rejecting the explanations and practices of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions. Their path brought violence, division, and harm to the Ummah.
In contrast, the principle of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah is to understand the Qur’an and Sunnah through the lens of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم)—their explanations, applications, and practices serve as the correct guide for interpretation.
❖ Origin of the Khawārij
The first sect to emerge within the Muslim Ummah that deliberately disregarded the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the practice of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم), attempting to understand the Qur’an purely based on their personal reasoning, was the group known as the Khawārij.
The Prophet ﷺ had foretold their emergence, stating that these individuals would recite the Qur’an abundantly, and their worship would amaze the common believers, yet the Qur’an would not pass beyond their throats. Instead, they would misguide others in the name of the Qur’an.
❖ The Objection of Dhul-Khuwayṣirah
According to Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, during the distribution of the spoils of war after the Battle of Ḥunayn, a man named Dhul-Khuwayṣirah objected to the Prophet ﷺ and accused him of not being just in his distribution.
Upon this, ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and Khālid ibn al-Walīd (رضي الله عنهما) sought permission to kill him, but the Prophet ﷺ forbade it. He then prophesied that from the descendants of this man would arise people who, despite excessive worship, would deviate from religion as an arrow passes cleanly through the target.
❖ The Dispute Between ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) and the Khawārij
During the Battle of Ṣiffīn, when Muʿāwiyah (رضي الله عنه) proposed arbitration, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) accepted it.
However, six thousand individuals from his own army, mostly from Banū Tamīm, rejected this decision and gathered at Ḥarūrā’, appointing ʿAbdullāh ibn Wahb al-Rāsī as their leader. Due to this separation, they came to be known as “Khawārij.”
❖ Beliefs and Extremism of the Khawārij
- They considered anyone committing a major sin (kabīrah) to be a disbeliever and permitted their killing.
- They only acknowledged the Khulafā’ al-Rāshidūn up to Abū Bakr and ʿUmar (رضي الله عنهما), and conditionally accepted ʿUthmān and ʿAlī (رضي الله عنهما).
- The Azāriqah subgroup believed that repentance of a major sinner was not accepted, and such a person would remain in Hell forever.
- The Ibāḍiyyah, a more moderate branch, survives to this day, particularly in Oman.
❖ Battle of Nahrawān and the Continuation of Khawārij
In Ṣafar 38 AH, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) fought the Khawārij at Nahrawān and defeated them.
However, this group did not vanish. They continued to emerge at various points in history and even established political control, such as the Rustamid State in 144 AH, which lasted until 296 AH when it was dismantled by the Fāṭimids.
❖ Dialogues Between Scholars and the Khawārij
✦ ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنهما):
On ʿAlī’s instruction, he engaged the Khawārij in dialogue and answered their three core objections:
- "In al-ḥukmu illā lillāh" (Judgement is only for Allah):
He rebutted their stance by citing examples of arbitration within Sharīʿah. - Captives and war booty:
He clarified their misunderstanding by referencing the status of ʿĀ’ishah (رضي الله عنها) as Mother of the Believers. - Use of the title “Amīr al-Muʾminīn”:
He cited the Treaty of Ḥudaybiyyah, explaining how titles are not always insisted upon during peacemaking.
✦ ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz (رحمه الله):
Engaged in rational discussion with two Khawārij representatives and demonstrated how their ideology conflicted with the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the understanding of the Companions. One of the delegates, a man from Habasha, was moved by the truth and repented, joining ʿUmar’s side.
✦ Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمه الله):
When Ḍaḥḥāk, a leader of the Khawārij, seized control of Kūfah, Imām Abū Ḥanīfah was arrested. Through his wisdom and diplomacy, he convinced them not only theologically, but also prevented mass bloodshed among the Muslims of Kūfah.
❖ Damage Caused by the Khawārij and the Principle of Ahl al-Sunnah
The Khawārij misinterpreted the Qur’an based on their narrow understanding, rejecting the explanations and practices of the Prophet ﷺ and the Companions. Their path brought violence, division, and harm to the Ummah.
In contrast, the principle of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamāʿah is to understand the Qur’an and Sunnah through the lens of the Companions (رضي الله عنهم)—their explanations, applications, and practices serve as the correct guide for interpretation.
