Who Were the Khawarij

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Question:

Who were the Khawarij in Islamic history? - A historical overview of the Khawarij movement, their beliefs, and their role in early Islamic conflicts. :::

Answer:

Yes prophet saws had warned muslims from these kinds of people who were referred to as Khawaarij and has foretold their characteristics as mentioned below:

They read the Quran, thinking it is in support of them while it is actually against them. From their (khwaarijis/terrorists) attributes is their outward portrayal of righteousness and piety while concealing corruptive beliefs inside. [The Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said:] One of you would belittle his own prayer when compared to their prayer and his fasting compared to their fasting. They will recite the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats. They will pass through the religion as an arrow passes through a target. Some other narrations of prophet saws with respect to khwaarijis/terrorists are mentioned below:Many authentic hadeeth from the prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) condemning them have come in ten different forms of narration like what al-Khalal narrated from Imam Ahmad that he said: “The Khawaarij are wicked people, and I don’t know of any people on earth more evil than they.”From the attributes of the Khawaarij are their ignorance of the Book and the Sunnah and their wicked interpretations of their meanings just as the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: They read the Qur`an, thinking it is in support of them while it is actually against them. Another attribute of the Khawaarij is that they are as the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) described them: Young in age, having reckless and deficient intellects. Imam Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and al-Hakim recorded a Ḥadith from Ibn Abi Awfa, and Ahmad and al-Hakim also recorded it from Abu Umamah that the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: The Khawaarij are the dogs of Hell. Ibn ‘Umar (radiallaahu ‘anhumma) said, “I heard Allah’s Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) say: Every time a new generation of them (khwariji) rises, they will then disappear, more than twenty times and then said: Until the Dajjaal/Anti-Christ finally appears among the. FYI, the khwarijis appeared during the time of 3rd caliph and They (Khawaarij) collectively [declared] that both ‘Uthman and later ‘Alee (the 3rd and 4th caliphs of Islam) were disbelievers as [they declared] other companions. [Aoodhoobillaah!

The origins of Kharijism (ideology inspiring terror) date back to the time of the Prophet (saws).

Amongst the clearest indications we have of this is the Hadith in Bukhari and Muslim. After the Battle of Hunain the Prophet (s) - in distributing the booty - gave preference to a number of non-Muslims. His aim was to attract them to Islam Hurqus ibn Zuhair. rebuked the Prophet (s) by saying to him: “Be just in your distribution O Messenger of Allah.”

The Prophet was incensed by this remark and responded by saying:“Then who can be called just if I am not just?”

To this the Prophet added:

“There will come a time when a group of people will leave our ranks. They will recite the Quran with fervour and passion (lit. “With tongues that are moist”.) but its spirit will not go beyond their throats. They will leave our ranks in the manner of an arrow when it shoots from its bow.”

Act of Terrorism by Khawariji Historically

[Khawaarij killed Uthman R.A the 3rd caliph of Islam].

The act was committed by Khawarijis whose master-mind was Abdullah Bin Saba: Over 3,000 at the time of the companions of the Messenger (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) came to Madinah - the city of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) - and surrounded ‘Uthman bin ‘Affan (radiallaahu ‘anhu) in his house and put the people of Madinah to fear, and they had the (audacity) to attack the righyly-guided Calipha ‘Uthman, the in-law of the Prophet. they attacked ‘Uthman. He was over 80 years old. He grew old in Islaam. The innovator said, “Allahu akbar, that which is between me and entering Paradise is killing this shaikh (‘Uthman).” Then audhoobillaah, he killed ‘Uthman.

Kharijite insurgents were plotting to assassinate and murder ‘Uthmaan. When the period of Hajj was over and support came from Madeenah in favour of the Caliph, this made things difficult for the insurgents. So they decided on this ground to execute their mission immediately before things got out of hand and before they were overpowered by the allied forces supporting the Caliph. They tried to break into the Caliph’s house, but failed because of the resistance of the Ansaar and the Muhajireen. Then the insurgents decided to burn ‘Uthmaan’s house. They climbed the walls and attacked him while he was reciting the Glorious Qur’an silently. Muhammad Ibn Abi Bakr did not hurt the caliph, but Al-Ghafiqi Ibn Harb immediately hit ‘Uthmaan with an axe he was holding. Then another one struck him with his sword. On seeing this ugly scene, the Caliph’s wife, Naa’ilah tried to protect him, but the sword chopped off her fingers. One of the insurgents ultimately put an end to the Caliphs life by striking him. The insurgents robbed the Caliph’s house and Baitul-Maal. This event took place on Friday, 18th Dhul-Hijjah, 35 A.H (656 AC).

These evil men only allowed the people to bury the Commander of the Faithful in secret. Then his decent and clean body was finally laid to rest at night and his burial was attended by a few mourners.

This unfortunate and painful incidence brought to an end to the life of the third Rightly-Guided Caliph, ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan, at 80 years of age. It was undoubtedly an abundant life of one of the revered Companions, one of the pious early Muslims who strove in Allaah’s cause with his soul, money and his utmost service and self-sacrifice. To justify this event was nothing but pain felt by all the Muslims. Its effect is still remembered in the Muslim world today.

[Biographies of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs, prepared from the works of Ibn Katheer, At-Tabari, As-Suyooti, and other historians, Dar Al-Manarah].

Are the Terrorists of Today the Khawaarij ?

…This act [bombings] of theirs is the act of the Khawaarij. Rather, they are even more violent and extreme than the (original) Khawaarij. The (past) Khawaarij did not use to destroy buildings and residents. The Khawaarij used to show up face-to-face on the battlefield. They used to fight on the battlefield despite what they were upon of ignorance. But they did not used to collapse buildings on everyone inside them - women, children, the innocent, those at peace with Muslims, people with whom Muslims have a treaty, and other people guaranteed safety. The Khawaarij used not to do this. This is worse and more violent than the actions of the (original) Khawaarij. This is more like the actions of the Qaraamitah (a severely violent, misguided sect)…

The misguided youth subject themselves to the punishment reported in the statement of the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam): Whoever kills a Muaa`hid (a non-Muslim promised safety) will not even smell the fragrance of Paradise even though its scent can be smelled from forty years away.

The ‘ulemaa have differed as to whether the Khawaarij are disbelievers or merely deviants and sinners. And the opinion that they are disbelievers is closer to the truth since the proofs indicate that they are disbelievers.

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