Exposing the Khawarij Infiltration of the Blessed Muhammadan Nation

By Shaykh Dr Ridhwan ibn Muhammad Saleem

This important book by one of the UK's upcoming scholars seeks to carefully analyse and clarify the explosive and politically sensitive issue of who and what exactly are the Khawarij (Kharijites), both in history and the present day. 
Despite the severe warnings from the Prophet, many Muslims today are not aware of this dangerous sect and deviant ideology, and many may even be following its teachings without realising it.
With accusations of Kharijism being made by various contemporary political and religious factions against those who disagree with them, Shaykh Ridhwan seeks to objectively assess and to identify with precision the Kharijite groups within the ummah today. 
The conclusions reached by the author are important for both scholars and educated Muslims alike, and pave the way for an enhanced understanding of the situation of the Muslim ummah today.

Shaykh Ridhwan gained traditional qualifications (ijaza/Alim degree) studying with some of the leading ulema in Syria and the UK/US, as well as academic degrees in Medicine and Anthropology. He has been researching and teaching in the field of Islamic History since 2014 at London College of Islamic Studies and various Islamic centres in the UK. 
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ha Meem Foundation
• Release date: Dec 12, 2022
• ISBN: 9798215962534

Book preview

London College of Islamic Studies

Monograph

––––––––

Exposing the Khawārij Infiltration

of the Blessed Muhammadan Nation

––––––––

Followed by

Fatḥ al-Bāri commentary on Saḥeeḥ al-Bukhāri

by Imam Ahmad ibn Ali Ibn Hajar al-Asqallāni

Chapter on the Killing of the Kharijites and Heretics after establishing evidence against them

and

Chapter on The One Who Abandons Fighting the Kharijites For the Sake of Attracting the Hearts [to Islam] and Preventing People From Turning Away From It.

Shaykh Dr Ridhwan ibn Saleem

Copyright © 2022 Ridhwan ibn Saleem

All rights reserved.

Published by Ha Meem Foundation

In the Year 1444 after the Hijra/2022 Common Era

HaMeem.org   LCI.org.uk

Acknowledgements

My thanks to Shaykh Muhammad Akram Nadwi for his assistance in the translation of the chapters from Fath al Bari. Thanks to my students who have encouraged me to produce this work, and to Khadeeja for proof-reading the text.  

Dedicated to

My teacher, Shaykh Saeed Ramadan al-Bouti,

who was killed by a Kharijite suicide bomber as he sat teaching in a masjid on 9 Jumada al-Ula 1434/21 March 2013.

May Allah have mercy on his soul

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 2. Importance of learning about the Kharijites

Chapter 3. Hadith sources regarding the Kharijites

Chapter 4. Modus operandi of the Kharijites

Chapter 5. Brief history of the Kharijites

First Wave: Early appearance of the Kharijites

The Second Wave

The Azraquites

The Najdawis

The Ṣafaris

The ʿAjradis

The Khazimis

The Shuaybis

The Khalafis

The Maʿloomis and Majhoolis

The Ṣalatis

The Thaʿlabis

The Maʿbadis

The Akhnasis

The Shaybanis

The Rashidis

The Mukrimis

The Shubaybis

The Hamzawis

The Ibāḍis

The Wahhabis

The Third Wahhabi State: The Kingdom of Saʿudi Arabia

Response of Sunni Scholars to the Wahhabis

Chapter 6: Identifying Kharijite groups in the Muslim ummah today

The Muslim Brotherhood

Islamists and takfeer of Muslim rulers

Salafis & Wahhabis

Chapter 7: Implications of identifying Kharijite elements within the Muslim Community

Appendix: Translation of Fath al-Bari, commentary on Saheeh al Bukhari, by Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqallāni

The Chapter on the Killing of the Kharijites and Heretics after establishing evidence against them

Translator’s note

Ibn Hajar’s introduction and history of the Kharijites

The most evil of Allah’s creation

The Hadith of Ali

The Hadith of Abu Saeed

The Incident of Dhul-Khuwayṣira

Ruling on Whether the Kharijites are Apostates

Ruling on Fighting Against the Kharijites

Transmission of the Hadiths Regarding the Kharijites is mutawātir (Absolutely Certain)

References

About the Author.....................  ....................................... 128

Introduction

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem

All praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and mercy be upon His noble messenger, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions, and all those good people who follow their example until the Last Day.

The Kharijites (Ar. khawārij) are the earliest deviant[1] sect in Islam. Many educated people and even scholars (both Islamic scholars and ‘Western’ academics), presume that the Shi’a are the ‘earliest’ sect in Islam, but that is not correct, as this essay will show.

The earliest stirrings of the Kharijite deviation took place, astonishingly, during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself.

I will not go into a debate about the beginnings of Shi’ism in this essay, apart from saying that, in my opinion, it is not correct to say that the people around Ali, or even Hussain, were Shi’a (or, as some scholars describe them, ‘proto-Shia’). If anything, the people who supported Ali and his family (the so-called ‘party of Ali’) were ‘Sunni’, i.e. the mainstream, or main body of the Muslim ummah (although there was no such thing as ‘Sunni’ or ‘Shia’ at that time). However, this is a diversion from our topic. In any case, the Kharijites take the notorious title of being the first sect in Islam.

Although the very first Kharijite individual(s) can be traced back to the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ himself, they emerged as a clearly separate faction during the caliphate of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him). After the Battle of Siffin, a large group of warriors separated from the army of Ali and set up camp at a place called Harura. Eventually, they declared Ali to be an apostate and declared war against him. This group became known as the Harurites. As we shall see, they were the first of many Kharijite groups to emerge. The name ‘khawarij’ itself, which is found in some hadiths, can be thought of as an umbrella term for many groups who share some of the same doctrines and characteristics[2].

Kharijite groups continued to appear throughout Islamic history until the present day. This is similar to Shia groups, for example, who arose in the early period of Islam and continue to exist in the present day. And, just like the Shia, the Kharijites also split into various sub-sects. For example, among the Shia there are ‘Twelvers’, Ismailis (‘Seveners’), and many other sub-sects, some of whom have disappeared over time. Some of the Shia groups with more extreme doctrines, such as belief in the divinity of Ali, are considered to be outside of the pale of Islam altogether. Other Shia groups, like the Zaydis, are considered to be closer to Sunnis.[3]

Similarly, with the Kharijites, we see that many sub-sects have arisen over the centuries; some have endured longer than others, and some have been closer to the Sunni orthodoxy in their beliefs and practice, while others have been at the most extreme end or have even left the pale of Islam altogether[4]. 

Chapter 2

Importance of learning about the Kharijites

It is of vital importance for Muslims to know about the Kharijites because the Noble Prophet ﷺ warned about them on many occasions and to many Companions, to the extent that the hadiths warning about them reach the level of tawātur (certain transmission with no possibility of doubt)[5]. Moreover, the warnings regarding the Kharijites are of the most severe nature. For example, the Prophet ﷺ said, If I were to come across them, I would destroy them like the [destruction of] Aad.

It is my contention that, in fact, the Noble Prophet did not warn the Muslims against any other sect that will arise from this ummah to the extent that he warned about the Kharijites. Clearly, we must ask the question: why did the Prophet ﷺ feel the need to warn us in such severe terms against this particular group?

There must be a good reason for this. Therefore, it is important for us to study and understand the warnings given in the noble hadiths, so that we may become aware of this most dangerous of deviant movements that arise from within the fold of Islam.

In this way, we can save ourselves from being influenced by, or inadvertently following, this dangerous sect. Also, we must be able to recognise the Kharijites among us, so that we can formulate the correct policy and response towards them.

The main reason for writing this article is the rise of many Kharijite groups in the Ummah in recent decades, who are causing widespread tribulation and bloodshed among the Muslims. This is the typical pattern of kharijite groups, and one of their defining characteristics. However, there is a general level of confusion around who are and who are not Kharijites. It has become fashionable for some rulers of Muslim countries to declare anyone who opposes their rule to be Kharijites. They seem to have no problem finding high-ranking ‘scholars’ to back up their claims.

On the other hand, we have various groups descended from, and splintered from, the Wahhabi movement[6], declaring each other to be Kharijites. For example, we find pro-Saudi Salafis accusing anti-Saudi ‘jihadi’-Salafis and various Islamist political groups of being Kharijites.

A third issue that adds to the general confusion is the widely expressed idea in the literature that the Kharijites are a historical group that arose in the early period of Islam and disappeared many centuries ago. This is not correct. Just like the Shia, although many sub-sects have come and gone, there are some Kharijite groups that have persisted and, as this article will demonstrate, new ones that have arisen. The Ibadis are an example of a Kharijite group that has persisted from the earliest time until today.

This article seeks to remove the confusion and clarify the thorny issue of exactly who the Kharijite groups among our ummah today are. This is not just of academic interest, but of very practical concern, as the precise identification of these groups will allow the mainstream Sunni community to understand the contemporary geo-political and intra-ummah situation better, and act accordingly. 

Today, many Kharijite groups have infiltrated the main body of the Muslim ummah and are posing as ‘Sunnis’[7]. It is imperative for Sunni scholars to clearly identify these groups and mark them out for what they are.

Some may object that this will create division and disunity among the Muslims. But my argument is that the Noble Prophet ﷺ has warned us against them for a good reason. This group is the main cause of disunity, civil war, and internal bloodshed of Muslims. As we shall see, declaring other Muslims to be unbelievers and waging war against them is their primary defining characteristic. That is why scholars cannot just turn a blind eye to this group, in the pretext of not wishing to cause division and disunity. By leaving them alone, and not educating the Muslims about them, we allow them to continue spreading their toxic ideas and causing internal strife and bloodshed among the Muslims. There is a good reason why the Noble Prophet ﷺ said, ‘If I were to come across them, I would surely destroy them, like the [destruction of] Aad’[8].

In recent decades, Kharijite groups have perpetrated shocking and horrific acts of bloodshed, torture, and even enslavement, of innocent Muslim men, women and children, in many different lands. No wonder the Prophet ﷺ said about them, They kill the people of Islam, but they leave alone the people of idolatry[9]. Nothing has changed.  

Chapter 3

Hadith sources regarding the Kharijites

All of the major collections of Hadith contain narrations about this deviant sect. The great master of Hadith, Imam Bukhari (may Allah have mercy on him), was one of the early scholars who highlighted the grave nature of this sect. He included in his ‘Saheeh’ a chapter entitled, ‘Chapter on the killing of Kharijites and Heretics after establishing evidence against them.’

Generally, the Sunni scholars are in agreement that most Kharijite groups (like most Shia groups) are Muslim. They have some incorrect doctrines, but they remain within the fold of Islam. For that reason, the majority of Sunni scholars forbade taking up the sword against the Kharijites, unless they