The Scholars of both the past and modern times have not differed over the Khārijites being an evil people, disobedient to Allāh, the Exalted and His Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم), even if they prayed, fasted and strove in worship. None of that will be of benefit to them. Yes, they proclaim the enjoining of good and prohibition of evil, but that is of no benefit to them (either) because they are people who distort the Qurʾān upon what they desire, and they deceive the Muslims. And Allāh, the Exalted, warned us against them [in the Qurʾān], the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) warned us aginst them, after him, the Rightly-guided Caliphs warned us against them. The Companions (رضي الله عنهم) and whoever followed them in goodness warned us against them, The Khārijites are filthy, despicable, rebellious ones, and (likewise) whoever is upon their way from all of the (factions of the) Khārijites. They have inherited this doctrine in both the past and the modern era from each other, in a successive manner. They revolt against the leaders and rulers and they declare the killing of Muslims to be lawful.

Their first appearance was during the era of the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and it was a man who reviled the Messenger of Allāh (صلى الله عليه وسلم) whilst he was dividing the war spoils. He said: ‘Be just O Muḥammad for I do not consider that you have been just.’ He (صلى الله عليه وسلم) replied: ‘Woe be to you. Who will abide by justice if I am not just?’ ʿUmar desired to kill him but the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) forbade him and informed: ‘This man has associates, you will belittle your own prayer compared to theirs and your fasting compared to theirs, they will depart from the religion.’ He also ordered in more than one ḥadīth to fight them and explained the excellence of the one who killed them or who was killed by them.

Thereafter they emerged from many different lands, gathered together and proclaimed the enjoining of good and prohibiting of evil, until they approached Madīnah. They killed ʿUthmān bin ʿAffān (رضي الله عنه). The Companions of Allāh’s Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) who were present in Madīnah tried to prevent ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه) from being killed, but they were unable to do so. Then they came out against the Chief of the Believers, ʿAlī bin Abī Ṭālib (رضي الله عنه) and were not pleased with his rule. They manifested their statement and said: ‘Judgment belongs to none but Allāh.’ ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) said, ‘A word of truth by which they intend falsehood.’ Thereafter, ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) fought them and Allāh honoured him through his killing of them. And he informed from the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of the excellence of the one who killed them or who was killed by them. The Companions fought with him and thus, the sword of ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) upon the Khārijites became the sword of truth [against them] until the Hour is established.”

It is not permissible for the one who sees the uprising of a khārijite who has revolted against the leader, whether [the leader] is just or oppressive, so this person has revolted and gathered a group behind him, has pulled out his sword and has made lawful the killing of Muslims, it is not fitting for the one who sees this, that he becomes deceived by this person’s recitation of the Qurʾān, the length of his standing in prayer, nor his constant fasting, nor his good and excellent words in knowledge when it is clear to him that this person’s way and methodology is that of the Khārijites.