Some factions are greater in their opposition to the Messenger than others, and others are more apparent in their opposition [than others]. However, the apparentness [of such opposition] is a relative matter.

The opposition of the one who opposes the Sunnah will be clear to the one who knows the Sunnah. In some cases, the opposition of some of them to the Sunnah is apparent to some of the people due to their knowledge of the Sunnah as opposed to others who do not know of [the Sunnah] what those people know.

And sometimes the Sunnah in that matter is known to all of the ummah and thus the opposition of the one who opposed it is readily apparent - just as the opposition of the Rāfiḍah to the Sunnah has become apparent to the majority and in the view of the majority, they are opposers to the Sunnah, and thus it is said, ‘Are you a Sunnī or a Rāfiḍī?’

Likewise the Khārijites, when they were people of the sword and of fighting, their opposition to the jamāʿah (those united behind a ruler) became apparent when they would fight against the people, but as for today, most people do not recognize them.