After the revolt instigated by ʿAbdullāh bin Sabaʾ (among others) against the third caliph, ʿUthmān (رضي الله عنه), which led to his assassination, a series of events unfolded in which differing perceptions and viewpoints amongst the Companions regarding how to deal with matters following the assassination of ʿUthmān were monopolized upon by hostile external elements some of whom had camouflaged themselves amongst their ranks in order to bring about tribulations.

These events unfolded into hostilities that took place between ʿAlī (رضي الله عنه) [who wanted stability and regaining of strength after the assassination before pursuing the criminals] and Muʿāwiyah (رضي الله عنه) [who wanted immediate revenge for ʿUthmān].

When an arbitration was agreed between the two sides, factions from the army of Aliʿ (رضي الله عنه) absconded and judged both sides with disbelief for referring judgement to men. From here came the slogan of Ḥākimiyyah (rulership).

Many thousands of them revolted but some of them recanted after debate with Ibn ʿAbbās (رضي الله عنه) who notified them of their errors in understanding. Those that persisted upon their innovated ideology were then involved in fighting against the main body of the Muslims. ʿAlī recognized the traits in these people as described in the statements of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم).

Prophetic Traditions on the Khārijites

The following is a summary of the Prophetic declarations regarding the Khārijites:

• They pass through the religion (Islām) like an arrow passes through its game.^[1]
• Their faith does not pass beyond their throats.^[2]
• They recite the Qurʾān but it does not go beyond their collar-bones.^[3] Indicating false scholarship, ignorance and lack of comprehension.
• They speak with the best (most alluring) speech of the creation.^[4] Indicating their alluring, beautified speech that draws and deceives the ignorant and naive.
• Your prayer and fasting (that of the Companions) is nothing compared to theirs.^[5] Meaning, they have impressive outward piety, though it does not penetrate the hearts.
• Young of age, foolish of mind.^[6] Most of them consist of young, impressionable, zealous, hasty youth who are deceived by propaganda and slogans.
• Their speech is beautiful, alluring yet their actions evil.^[7] They combine between beautified, alluring speech and evil, barbarity in action.
• They are the most evil of the creation.^[8]
• They call to the Book of Allāh, yet they have nothing to do with it.^[9]
• They are the most evil of those killed beneath the canopy of the sky.^[10]
• Glad tidings for the one who killed them.^[11] Killing them (after their refusal to return to truth) is a virtue. They are fought under the leadership of the ruler, after they have rejected advice, unless one is attacked by them and defends himself.
• If I (the Prophet) was to reach them, I would slaughter them, like the slaughtering of Ād.^[12] Ād is a destroyed nation of the past and the meaning is that he would have slaughtered every last one of them till not a single one of them remains.^[13]
• They will not cease to emerge, being cut off each time, until the Anti-Christ (Dajjāl) appears amongst their armies.^[14]
• They are the Dogs of Hellfire.^[15]
• The statement of the Companion, Abū Umāmah al-Bāhilī (رضي الله عنه): The Dogs of the people of Hellfire, they used to be Muslims but turned disbelievers.^[16]
• Wherever you meet them, kill them, for there is a reward on the Day of Judgement for whoever kills them.^[17]

The Khārijites splintered into many sects and their word differed. Some of them fell into major innovated doctrines in other fields of Islāmic creed. Some of them denied the Prophetic Sunnah. Some of them declared Muslims disbelievers on account of all major sins, others only with respect to some major sins, others on account of persistence upon sins, even if they were minor.

However, what united the Khārijites in all their varying groups is that they considered the ruler who is unjust, or who fails to judge by what Allāh revealed in an issue amongst the issues to be a disbeliever. Upon this, they justified revolt against rulers, governments and authorities, leading to destruction of the servant and the land and untold trials and tribulations throughout history till this day of ours.

Their tribulation is ongoing and they will continue emerging till the major signs of the Hour.

Footnotes