Islamic Knowledge – Islam, Sunnah, Salafiyyah
Are the Khawārij Those Who Only Revolt Against a Just Ruler?
الفتاوى للشيخ :Original Title
Author: Rabī’ Ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī
Source: http://www.rabee.net/show_fatwa.aspx?id=160
Translated by: Abu az-Zubayr Harrison – authentic-translations.com
Click the below link to read or download the full document
Are the Khawarij Those Who Only Revolt Against a Just Ruler-Rabi Ibn Hadi al-Madkhali [PDF]
Are the Khawārij Sincere in Worship?
الفتاوى للشيخ :Original Title
Author: Rabī’ Ibn Hādī Al-Madkhalī
Source: http://www.rabee.net/show_fatwa.aspx?id=157
Translated by: Abu az-Zubayr Harrison – authentic-translations.com
Click the below link to read or download the full document
Are the Khawarij Sincere in Worship -Rabi Ibn Hadi al-Madkhali- Authentic-Translations.com [PDF]
Descriptions of the Khawārij
فقد جاء أشراطها :Original Title
Author: Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Din al-Albānī
Translator : Abu az-Zubayr Harrison – authentic-translations.com
This article was taken from a book called “Faqad Jāa’ Ashrāṭuhā” by a student of the famous scholar of Ḥadīth, Shaykh Muḥammad Nāṣir al-Din al-Albānī. This article is a collection of some Ḥadīth and narrations from that book considered authentic by al-Albānī in some of his collections
Contents of the article
The Dogs of Hell
They are the Worst of People, the Worst of All Creatures
The Anti-Christ Will Emerge Among Them
They are the Worst of People Killed, The Best are Those Whom they Kill
Their Distinguishing Signs on the Day of Nahrawān
They Murder the People of Islam and Ignore the People of Idol-Worship
Their Sign is Their Shaven Heads
They Recite the Quran with Only Their Tongues
They are Mostly People of Talk, Not Action
Their Actions Amaze People
They are the Māriqūn (They Pass Right through the Religion)
They Closer of Two Parties to the Truth will Defeat Them
The Encouragement of Allah’s Messenger to Defeat Them & the Reward for Doing so
They Consider Their Rebellion to be a Form of Migration for the Sake of Allah
‘AlĪ’s Attempt to Return Them to the Truth before Fighting Them
Click the below link to read or download the full artilce PDF
Descriptions of the Khawarij – Shaykh al Albanee [PDF]
Imam Aḥmad, Ibn Mājah, and al-Ḥākim recorded a Ḥadīth from Ibn Abī Awfá, and Aḥmad and al-Ḥākim also recorded it from Abū Umāmah that the prophet ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
الخَوَارِجُ كِلابُ النَّارِ
“The Khawārij are the dogs of Hell.”
The Khawārij are a sect of people who innovate and follow beliefs and practices foreign to Islam. They are called that (derived from the Arabic root verb: خَرَجَ – meaning to exit or rebel against) for their leaving the religion and for their rebellion against the best Muslims (prophet Muhammad’s companions).
The Khawārij used to renounce ‘Uthmān (the third Caliph of Islam) for several things and they declared themselves free of him announced their disassociation from him. The origin of that was that some of the citizens of Iraq criticized the behavior of some of ‘Uthmān’s relatives, so they blamed ‘Uthmān for that. Those people were known as “Reciters” for their diligence in reciting the Quran and for their worship. Yet, they used to twist and misinterpret the Quran from its intended meanings. They used to persist on their own personal opinions, and they used to appear very strict and devout in their humility, their renouncement of worldly things, and other things.
After ‘Uthmān was killed, they fought alongside ‘Alī. They believed ‘Uthmān was a disbeliever and whoever follows him. They considered ‘Alī’s leadership to be legitimate and considered anyone who fought against him to be disbelievers – those who fought him during the Battle of the Camel when their leaders were Ṭalḥah and al-Zubayr. [2] Yet when ‘Alī made a peace agreement regarding the leadership with Mu’āwiyah, they then declared ‘Alī to be a disbeliever and revolted against him, so he fought them.
Aḥmad, Muslim, and Ibn Mājah recorded a Ḥadīth from Abū Dharr who narrated that Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
إِنَّ بَعْدِي مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَوْ سَيَكُونُ بَعْدِي مِنْ أُمَّتِي قَوْمٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ
حَلاقِيمَهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَخْرُجُ السَّهْمُ مِنْ الرَّمِيَّةِ ثُمَّ لا يَعُودُونَ
فِيهِ هُمْ شَرُّ الْخَلْقِ وَالْخَلِيقَةِ
“There will definitely be a people after me from my nation who recite the Quran yet it will not even reach beyond their throats. They will pass through the religion as an arrow passes through a target, then they will not return back to it. They are the worst of people, the worst of all creatures.”
Ibn al-Ṣāmit, who narrated the Ḥadīth from Abū Dharr, said, “I met Rāfi’ Ibn ‘Amr al- Ghifārī and asked him about this Ḥadīth of Abū Dharr. He said, “I (too) heard it from Allah’s messenger ( [3] ”.(صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم
Ibn Mājah recorded a Ḥadīth from Ibn ‘Umar ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُمَا ) that the messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) ) said:
يَنْشَأُ نَشْءٌ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ كُلَّمَا خَرَجَ قَرْنٌ قُطِعَ
“There will arise a group of people who will recite the Quran but it will not reach beyond their throats. Every time a new generation of them rises, they will then disappear.”
Ibn ‘Umar said, “I heard Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) say, ‘Every time a new generation of them rises, they will then disappear,’ more than twenty times and then said:
حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ فِي عِرَاضِهِمْ الدَّجَّالُ
“Until the Anti-Christ finally appears among them.” [4]
Ibn Mājah recorded a Ḥadīth in which Abū Umāmah said:
شَرُّ قَتْلَى قُتِلُوا تَحْتَ أَدِيمِ السَّمَاءِ وَخَيْرُ قَتِيلٍ مَنْ قَتَلُوا كِلَابُ أَهْلِ النَّارِ قَدْ
كَانَ هَؤُلَاءِ مُسْلِمِينَ فَصَارُوا كُفَّارًا
“(They are) the worst people killed under the sky, and the best people killed are those whom they kill. They are the dogs of Hell. These people used to be Muslims but they became disbelievers.”
I (Abū Ghālib, one of the narrators) asked, “Abū Umāmah, is this something only you yourself are saying?” He replied, “No, rather I heard it from the messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى 5 ”.(اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم
al-Bukhārī and Muslim both recorded a Ḥadīth from Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) who said, “We were with Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) while he was distributing some wealth. Dhu al-Khuwaṣirah, a man from the Tamīm tribe, came to him and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, be fair!’ The prophet replied:
وَيْلَكَ وَمَنْ يَعْدِلُ إِذَا لَمْ أَعْدِلْ قَدْ خِبْتَ وَخَسِرْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَكُنْ أَعْدِلُ
“Beware. And who would be fair if I was not? You would be ruined if I were not just.”
‘Umar said, “Messenger of Allah, allow me to strike his neck.” He replied:
دَعْهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ أَصْحَابًا يَحْقِرُ أَحَدُكُمْ صَلاتَهُ مَعَ صَلاتِهِمْ وَصِيَامَهُ مَعَ صِيَامِهِمْ
يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنْ
الرَّمِيَّةِ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى نَصْلِهِ فَلا يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ ثُمَّ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى رِصَافِهِ فَمَا يُوجَدُ فِيهِ
شَيْءٌ ثُمَّ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى نَضِيِّهِ وَهُوَ قِدْحُهُ فَلا يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ ثُمَّ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى قُذَذِهِ فَلا
يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَيْءٌ قَدْ سَبَقَ الْفَرْثَ وَالدَّمَ آيَتُهُمْ رَجُلٌ أَسْوَدُ إِحْدَى عَضُدَيْهِ مِثْلُ
ثَدْيِ الْمَرْأَةِ أَوْ مِثْلُ الْبَضْعَةِ تَدَرْدَرُ وَيَخْرُجُونَ عَلَى حِينِ فُرْقَةٍ مِنْ النَّاسِ
“Leave him. He will certainly have companions (from his progeny) whom 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 game animal. One could then look at the arrowhead and not see a thing remaining on it. He could look at the binding which attaches the arrowhead to the rod and not see a thing. He could look at the rod and not see a thing. He could look at the feathers and not see a thing. It would go straight through the bowels and blood. Their sign is that of a black man. One of his limbs will appear like a woman’s breast or a disfigured lump of flesh. They will emerge when the people are disunited.”
Abū Sa’īd said, “I testify that I indeed heard this Ḥadīth from Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ), and I testify that ‘Alī Ibn Abī Ṭālib fought them while I was with him. He instructed that we search for that man. He was found and ‘Alee was brought to him. I saw that man exactly as the prophet ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) described him.” [6]
al-Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, and al-Nasā`ī all recorded a Ḥadīth from Abū Sa’īd al- Khudrī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) that he said:
‘Alī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) sent some gold to the prophet ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) so divided and distributed it among four groups: al-Aqra’ Ibn Ḥābis al-Ḥanẓalī, al-Mujāshi’ī, ‘Uyaynah Ibn Badr al-Fazārī, and Zayd al-Ṭā`ī; a man from the Nabhān tribe and ‘Alqamah Ibn ‘Ulāthah al-‘Āmirī; then a man from the Kilāb tribe.
(The Muslims of) Quraysh and the residents of Medina became upset and said, “He gives to the noble one from Najd and leaves us?” The prophet ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ
وَسَلَّم ) said:
إِنَّمَا أَتَأَلَّفُهُمْ
“I am only trying to unite their hearts.”
Then a man with sunken eyes, thick cheeks, a high forehead, a thick beard, and a shaven head came up and said, “Fear Allah, Muhammad!” He replied:
مَنْ يُطِعْ اللَّهَ إِذَا عَصَيْتُ؟ أَيَأْمَنُنِي اللَّهُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الأَرْضِ فَلا تَأْمَنُونِي؟
“Who would obey Allah if I were disobedient (to Him)? Allah trusts me with regards to the people of the earth but you don’t trust me?”
A man then asked to kill him – I think it was Khālid Ibn al-Walīd – but the prophet صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) ) forbade him from doing so. After the man left, he said:
إِنَّ مِنْ ضِئْضِئِ هَذَا أَوْ فِي عَقِبِ هَذَا قَوْمًا يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ
يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنْ الرَّمِيَّةِ يَقْتُلُونَ أَهْلَ الإِسْلامِ وَيَدَعُونَ أَهْلَ
الأَوْثَانِ لَئِنْ أَنَا أَدْرَكْتُهُمْ لأَقْتُلَنَّهُمْ قَتْلَ عَادٍ
“From the progeny of this man,” or he said, “From the offspring of this man, there will come a people who will recite the Quran but it will not go beyond their throats. They will go through the religion like a arrow going through a target. They will murder the people of Islam while ignoring the people of idol-worship. If I were to reach them (their time), I would destroy them like the people of ‘Ād were destroyed.” [7]
Imam Aḥmad, al-Bukhārī, and Muslim recorded a Ḥadīth from Sahl Ibn Ḥanīf who narrated that the messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
يَخْرُجُ مِنَ المَشْرِقِ أَقْوَامٌ مُحَلَّقَةٌ رُءُوسُهُمْ، يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ لا يَعْدُو
تَرَاقِيَهُمْ، يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنْ الرَّمِيَّةِ
“A people will emerge from the East having shaven heads. They will recite the Quran with their tongues but it will not pass beyond their throats. They will pass through the religion just as an arrow passes through a target.” [8]
Aḥmad and al-Bukhārī record a Ḥadīth from Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī that Allah’s messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) ) said:
يَخْرُجُ نَاسٌ مِنْ قِبَلِ الْمَشْرِقِ وَيَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ
الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنْ الرَّمِيَّةِ ثُمَّ لا يَعُودُونَ فِيهِ حَتَّى يَعُودَ السَّهْمُ إِلَى
فُوقِهِ
“People will emerge from the East who 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, and they will not return to it until an arrow returns to its bow.” It was asked, “What is their distinguishing sign?” He answered:
سِيمَاهُمْ التَّحْلِيقُ
“Their sign is shaven heads.” [9]
al-Ṭabarānī recorded a Ḥadīth from ‘Uqbah Ibn ‘Āmir from Sahl Ibn Ḥanīf who narrated that Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
سَيَخْرُجُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَشْرَبُوْنَ القُرْآنَ كَشُرْبِهِم اللَّبَن
“There will arise a people from my nation who will drink [10] the Quran just as they drink milk.” [11]
There are many other Ḥadīth to this same effect. Some of them have been mentioned so there is no need to repeat them.
Abū Dāwūd, and al-Ḥākim recorded a Ḥadīth narrated by both Abū Sa’īd and Anas in which the messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
سَيَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي اخْتِلافٌ وَفُرْقَةٌ ، قَوْمٌ يُحْسِنُونَ الْقِيلَ وَيُسِيئُونَ الْفِعْلَ ،
يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ ، يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ مُرُوقَ السَّهْمِ مِنْ
الرَّمِيَّةِ لا يَرْجِعُونَ حَتَّى يَرْتَدَّ عَلَى فُوقِهِ ، هُمْ شَرُّ الْخَلْقِ وَالْخَلِيقَةِ ، طُوبَى
لِمَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ وَقَتَلُوهُ ، يَدْعُونَ إِلَى كِتَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَيْسُوا مِنْهُ فِي شَيْءٍ ، مَنْ قَاتَلَهُمْ
كَانَ أَوْلَى بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُمْ
“There will appear within my nation differences and division – people who will perfect their speech and make evil their actions. They will recite the Quran but it will not pass beyond their throats. They will pass through the religion just as an arrow passes through a target and they will not return until it (the arrow) returns back to its bow. They are the worst of people, the worst of all creatures. Tūbá (a tree in paradise, success) is for whoever kills them or they kill him. They will call to the book of Allah yet they have nothing to do with it. Whoever fights against them has more right upon Allah than they do.”
The companions asked, “What is their sign?” He replied:
التَّحْلِيقُ
“Shaven heads.” [12]
al-Bukhārī, Muslim, and Ibn Mājah recorded a Ḥadīth from Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) who said that he heard Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) saying:
يَخْرُجُ فِيكُمْ قَوْمٌ تَحْقِرُونَ صَلاتَكُمْ مَعَ صَلاتِهِمْ وَصِيَامَكُمْ مَعَ صِيَامِهِمْ
وَعَمَلَكُمْ مَعَ عَمَلِهِمْ وَيَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لا يُجَاوِزُ حَنَاجِرَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ
كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنْ الرَّمِيَّةِ يَنْظُرُ فِي النَّصْلِ فَلا يَرَى شَيْئًا وَيَنْظُرُ فِي الْقِدْحِ
فَلا يَرَى شَيْئًا وَيَنْظُرُ فِي الرِّيشِ فَلا يَرَى شَيْئًا وَيَتَمَارَى فِي الْفُوقِ (هَلْ عَلَّقَ بِهِ
مِنَ الدَّمِ شَيْء)
“There will emerge among you people whom you would belittle your prayer when compared to their prayer, your fasting compared to their fasting, and your deeds compared to theirs. They will recite the Quran but it will not reach beyond their throats. They will pass right through the religion just as an arrow may pass right through a target (game animal). One may look at such an arrowhead and see nothing remaining. He may look at the arrow rod and see nothing remaining. He may look at the feathers and see nothing. And he may look at the end-notch (to see if anything of blood stuck to it).” [13]
Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim recorded in “Kitāb al-Sunnah” a Ḥadīth narrated by Anas Ibn Mālik ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) in which he said: It was narrated to me that Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
يَخْرُجُ فِيْكُمْ – أَوْ يَكُوْنُ فِيْكُمْ – قَوْمٌ يَتَعَبَّدُوْنَ وَيَتَدَيَّنُوْنَ حَتَّى يُعْجِبُوْكُمْ
وَتُعْجِبُهُمْ أًنْفُسُهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنْ الدِّينِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنْ الرَّمِيَّةِ
“There will emerge among you – or (he said) there will be among you – a people who will worship and be religious so much that they will amaze you and amaze themselves. They will pass right through the religion just as an arrow may pass right through a target.” [14]
al-Bazzār recorded, as did Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim in “Kitāb al-Sunnah,” a narration that ‘Alī Ibn Abī Ṭālib ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) said on the Day of al-Nahrawān:
أُمِرْتُ بِقِتَالِ المَارِقِيْنَ، وَهَؤُلاءِ المَارِقُوْنَ
“I have been ordered to fight the Māriqūn, and these people are the Māriqūn.” [15]
Muslim and Abū Dāwūd recorded a Ḥadīth from Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) who said that the messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
تَمْرُقُ مَارِقَةٌ عِنْدَ فِرْقَةٍ مِنَ المُسْلِمِيْنَ، يَقْتُلُهَا أَوْلَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ بِالْحَقِّ
“A group of Māriqah will renegade when the Muslims will split (the party of ‘Alī and that of Muā’wiyah); the closer of the two parties to the truth will kill them (the Māriqah).” [16]
And in a narration recorded by Muslim:
تَكُوْنَ فِي أُمَّتِي فِرْقَتَانِ، فَتَخْرُجٌ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمَا مَارِقَةٌ، يَلِي قَتْلَهُمْ أَوْلاهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ
“There will be in my nation two parties. Between them, a group of Māriqah will emerge. The closer of the two parties to the truth will kill them.” [17]
al-Nawawī said in his explanation of Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim:
“These narrations are explicit in that ‘Alī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) was correct, and the other party, the companions of Muā’wiyah ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ), were mistaken in their interpretations. And in these narrations, it is clear that both parties still remained believers; they did not, because of their fighting one another, leave their faith nor are they considered wicked.” [18]
Ibn Tamiyyah said:
“And we know that ‘Alī Ibn Abī Ṭālib ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) was better and closer to the truth than Muā’wiyah and those who fought against him with Muā’wiyah. This is confirmed by the narration in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim that Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) said that the prophet ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said:
تَمْرُقُ مَارِقَةٌ عِنْدَ فِرْقَةٍ مِنَ المُسْلِمِيْنَ، يَقْتُلُهَا أَوْلَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ بِالْحَقِّ
“A group of Māriqah will renegade when the Muslims will split; the closer of the two parties to the truth will kill them (the Māriqah).” [19]
“And in this Ḥadīth, there is evidence that both parties had something of truth with it, but that ‘Alī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) was closer to the truth.” [20]
al-Bukhārī, Muslim, and Abū Dāwūd recorded a narration in which ‘Alī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) said:
“When I speak to you, narrating to you something that Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) said, I would rather fall from the sky than to lie upon him. And if speak to you about what is happening between you and I, then surely in war there may be misleading strategy. Yet, I heard the messenger of Allah ( (صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم saying:
يَأْتِي فِي آخِرِ الزَّمَانِ قَوْمٌ حُدَثَاءُ الأَسْنَانِ، سُفَهَاءُ الأَحْلامِ، يَقُوْلُوْنَ مِنْ قَوْلِ خَيْرِ
البَرِيَّةِ، يَمْرُقُوْنَ مِنَ الإِسْلامِ كَمَا يَمْرُق السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ، لا يُجَاوِزُ إِيْمَانُهُم
حَنَاجِرَهُم، فَأَيْنَمَا لَقِيْتُمُوْهُم فَاقْتُلُوْهُم، فَإِنَّ قَتْلَهُمْ أَجْرٌ لِمَنْ قَتَلَهُم يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ
“There will come towards the end of time a people who will be young in age, having reckless and deficient intellects. They will speak with the statements of the best of creation, yet they will pass through Islam just as an arrow passes through a target. Their faith will not even reach beyond their throats. Wherever you find them, kill them, for whoever kills them will have a reward on the Day of Resurrection. [21]
And Muslim also narrated that Salamah Ibn Kuhīl said: Zayd Ibn Wahb al-Juhanī told me that he was among the army under the command of ‘Alī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) that went out to fight the Khawārij. ‘Alī ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) said:
Oh people, indeed I heard Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) saying:
يَخْرُجُ قَوْمٌ مِنْ أُمَّتِي يَقْرَءُوْنَ القُرْآنَ، لَيْسَ قِرَاءَتُكُم إِلَى قِرَاءَتِهِم بِشَيْءٍ، وَلا
صَلاتُكُم إِلَى صَلاتِهِم بِشَيْءٍ، وَلاصِيَامُكُم إِلَى صِيَامِهِم بِشَيْءٍ، يَقْرَءُوْنَ القَرْآنَ،
يَحْسِبُوْنَ أَنَّهُ لَهُم وَهُوَ عَلَيْهٍم، لاتُجَاوِزُ صَلاتُهُم تَرَاقِيَهُم، يَمْرُقُوْنَ مِنَ الإِسْلامِ
كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ
“There will arise a people from my nation, those who will recite the Quran; your recitation is nothing (insignificant) compared to theirs, your prayer is nothing compared to theirs, and your fasting is nothing compared to theirs. They recite the Quran believing it is evidence in support of them yet it is actually against them. Their prayers will not even go beyond their throats. They will pass through and out of Islam just as an arrow passes through a target.”
(‘Alī continued:) “If the army that is to encounter them were to know what (rewards) have been assured to them upon the tongue of their prophet, then they would almost rely solely upon that deed.
Their (the Khawārij) distinctive mark is that there will be among them a man with one upper-arm having no forearm. Its end will resemble a breast (of a woman) and there will be white hair upon it.
You will march towards Muā’wiyah and the people of al-Shām, leaving them (the Khawārij) behind with your children and wealth! By Allah, I hope that these are those people (that the prophet informed of), for they have shed blood that was to be held sacred and have raided and attacked people. So go in the name of Allah.”
Salamah Ibn Kuhīl said:
Zayd Ibn Wahb was with me at every point until we came to the bridge. That day, ‘Abdullah Ibn Wahb al-Rāsibī was at the head of the Khawārij. He (‘Abdullah) said to his army, “Throw your spears and draw your swords from their sheaths, for I fear that they will confront you in the way they did on the Day of Ḥarūrā.” So they went back, let loose their spears and drew their swords. The people fought against them with spears, stabbing them and killing them one after another. And no one was killed that day (from ‘Alī’s army) except two men. ‘Alī ( (رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said:
“Search among them (the casualties) for the deformed one.”
So the people searched but did not find him. ‘Alī then stood and began searching himself until he came to a group of people who had been killed. He said: “Search everyone of these to the last (of them).”
So they found him at the bottom, on the ground. ‘Alī said:
“Allah is the greatest! Allah told the truth and His messenger conveyed it.”
‘Abīdah al-Salmānī stood before him and asked, “Oh Chief of the Believers, by Allah other than whom there is no god, did you in fact here this Ḥadīth from Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم )?” He replied:
“Yes, by Allah other than whom there is no god.”
He (‘Abīdah) asked him (‘Alī) to swear three times and he did swear. 22 al-Nawawī said:
“‘Abīdah al-Salmānī, may Allah have mercy on him, asked ‘Alī to swear three times. He only asked him to swear for the others present to hear and so that it would be emphasized and that it be made known the miracle that Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) informed about. And he wanted to make it wellknown to the people that ‘Alī and his companions were the closer of the two parties to the truth and that he was correct in fighting them.” [23]
Aḥmad recrded a narration as did Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim recorded in “Kitāb al-Sunnah” – and the
wording is his – that Abī Ḥafṣ said:
“I heard from ‘Abdullah Ibn Abī Awfá when they were fighting the Khawārij. He used to have a young man (that served him, helped him, etc.) but he joined the Khawārij. So we called to him (the young man), ‘Oh Fayrūz! Fayrūz, this is ‘Abdullah Ibn Abī Awfá.’ He replied, ‘A great man if he only made Hijrah (migration)!’ ‘Abdullah asked, ‘What is Allah’s enemy saying?’ He was told what he said. So he (‘Abdullah) said, ‘A Hijrah after the Hijrah I made with the messenger of Allah ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم )? I surely heard Allah’s messenger ( صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم ) saying:
طُوْبَى لِمَنْ قَتَلَهُمْ وَقَتَلُوْهُ
Tūbá (a tree in Paradise, success) is for he who kills them or they kill him. [24]
Ibn Jarīr recorded in his “al-Tārīkh” that Ismā`īl Ibn Samī’ al-Ḥanafī narrated that Abū Zarīr said:
When the issue of al-Taḥkīm (before ‘Alī’s battle with the Khawārij) took place, ‘Alī returned from Ṣiffīn and those who split from him (the Khawārij) also returned. When they reached the river, they established themselves there. ‘Alī entered Kufa (in Iraq) along with the people and they (the Khawārij) were at Ḥarūrā. ‘Alī then sent ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbās to them but he returned without accomplishing much. So, ‘Alī went out to them and spoke to them until he and they were pleased and mutually content. They all then entered Kufa and a man came to him (‘Alī) and said, “The people are saying that you returned back from your disbelief because of them.” So, he addressed the people after the noon prayer and mentioned the affair. They began criticizing him and gathered near the mosque, saying, “There is no rule except the rule of Allah!” Then a man faced him (‘Alī) and recited:
وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ
وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate (anything) with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers. [al-Zumar, 39:65]
‘Alī replied, reciting:
فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ وَعْدَ اللَّهِ حَقٌّ وَلا يَسْتَخِفَّنَّكَ الَّذِينَ لا يُوقِنُونَ
So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is true. And do not let those who have no certain faith worry you. [al-Rūm, 30:60] [25]
Muslim and al-Nasā`ī recorded a narration in “Khaṣā`iṣ ‘Alī رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ” in which ‘Ubayd Allah Ibn Abī Rāfi’ said:
Indeed, the Ḥarūriyyah, before they rebelled, they were with ‘Alī ( .(رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ Then they began saying, “There is no rule except the rule of Allah!” ‘Alī said: “A word of truth, but intended therewith falsehood. Indeed, Allah’s messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم) ) described a people and I certainly recognize their description within these people. They speak the truth with their tongues, but it does not reach beyond here (and he pointed to his throat) from them. They are form the most hated to Allah of His creation. Among them will be a black man with one arm that will resemble a sheep’s teat or a breast.”
So, after ‘Alī Ibn Abī Ṭālib ( رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ ) killed them, he said, “Search (for the deformed man).” They searched but found nothing. He then said, “Return (and search again) for by Allah, I did not lie nor was I lied to.” He repeated this two or three times. They then found him among the ruined remains and brought him in front of ‘Alī.
‘Ubayd Allah (the narrator) then said, “I was present at that time among them and heard ‘Alī’s statements about them.” [26]
Footnotes:
[2] See “Fatḥ al-Bārī” (vol. 12/283).
[3] Recorded by Muslim (no. 1067) and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” by al-Albānī (no. 2035).
[4] Recorded by Ibn Mājah (no. 174 and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” by al-Albānī (no. 8027).
[5] Recorded by Ibn Mājah (no. 176 and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ Sunan Ibn Mājah” by al-Albānī (no. 146).
[6] Recorded by al-Bukhārī (no. 3610) and Muslim (no. 1063).
[7] Recorded by al-Bukhārī (no. 3344), Muslim (no. 1064), al-Nasā`ī (no. 2578), and Abū Dāwūd (no. 4764). It is also in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” by al-Albānī (no. 2223) and “al-Lu’lu’ wa al-Marjān” (no. 639).
[8] Recorded by Muslim (no. 1068) and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 7913) by al-Albānī.
[9] Recorded by al-Bukhārī (no. 7562) and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 7919) by al-Albānī.
[10] Meaning: They will merely move their tongues with it, neither pondering over its meanings nor being concerned with its laws and rulings. Instead, it will simply pass over their tongues just as a drink of milk quickly passes over them.
[11] The Ḥadīth is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 3547) by al-Albānī.
[12] Recorded by Abū Dāwūd (no. 4765) and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 3562) by al-Albānī.
[13] Recorded by al-Bukhārī (no. 5058) and others, and it is in “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 7909) by al- Albānī.
[14] Recorded by Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim in “Kitāb al-Sunnah” (no. 945).
[15] For this statement of ‘Alī, see “Kitāb al-Sunnah” (no. 907) by Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim along with the referencing of al-Albānī.
[16] “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 2994) by al-Albānī.
[17] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim with the explanation of al-Nawawī (7/168).
[18] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim with the explanation of al-Nawawī (7/168).
[19] See footnote no. 16.
[20] Majmū’ al-Fatāwá (3/407).
[21] “Ṣaḥīḥ al-Jāmi’” (no. 7883) by al-Albānī.
[22] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim with the explanation of al-Nawawī (7/171-173).
[23] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim with the explanation of al-Nawawī (7/173).
[24] “Kitāb al-Sunnah” by Ibn Abī ‘Āṣim (no. 906).
[25] See “Irwā al-Ghalīl” (2468) by al-Albānī and “Tārīkh al-Umam wa al-Mamlūk” (5/688) by Ibn Jarīr alṬabarī.
[26] Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim with the explanation of al-Nawawī (7/173) and “Irwā al-Ghalīl” (8/118) by al-Albānī.
By Imam Wahab ibn Munabih
Researched By Shaykh ‘Abdus Salaam bin Burjis Aal‘AbdulKareem May Allaah have mercy upon him. Translated by Abbas Abu Yahya
Contents:
All praise belongs to Allaah, may the peace and prayers of Allaah be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his Family, his Companions and all those who follow his way.
To Proceed:
Indeed the Khawarij are an evil people, inviters to Fitnah and a flag of separation. The affairs of the Muslims have never been in order and together except that the task of the Khawarij has been to tear this order apart and corrupt what has been rectified.
The presence of the Khawarij has been continuous since they first appeared. There has never been a period of time that has seen their absence until such time as the last of the Khawarij will rebel along with the Dajjal.
There are many recurring ahadeeth from the Messenger of Allaah -sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam- warning against them and clarifying their characteristics and Allaah’s ruling regarding them. This is why the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – fought against them, as did the rulers who came after them, throughout all periods of Islamic history.
Even Ameer ul-Mumineen ‘Uthmaan bin Affan was not saved from their attacks and evil plots, neither was Ameer ul-Mumineen ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib nor was Ameer ul-Mumineen Muawiyyah bin Abee Sufyaan – RadhiAllaahu anhum ajmaeen. The Khalifah Umar bin Abdul Azeez -Rahimullaah- was not saved from them, they rebelled against him…… so in reality they are the enemies of the people of Islaam and they are not pleased with any one of the Muslims ruling, no matter how good he is.
Even the Messenger of Allaah – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam –was not saved from their attacks, to the extent that their leader Dhul-Khawaysira said to him: ‘Be just O Muhammad’ whereby he attacked the character of Allaah’s Messenger – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam.
The Khawarij in every time and place have a similarity in resemblance, so their hearts, their tongues and their actions are similar.
This booklet, which I have extracted from the biography of the Imaam Wahab ibn Munabih -Rahimullaah, clearly explains their description as, in that time, the Khawarij exhibited the issues for which they have become well-known:
a) Their view of the impermissibility of paying Zakat to the rulers of the Muslims; this was due to their declaration of Takfeer on the Muslim ruler and their claim that the Muslim rulers did not spend the Zakat in its proper place.
b) Their not seeking forgiveness for the one who does not hold their views because they hold such a person to be a disbeliever in Allaah The Great.
So those affected by these false claims were those who had little knowledge such that they were deceived by the Zuhud (abstention from loving worldly things), worship and severity in Deen of the Khawarij.
From amongst those affected by the Khawarij was an elderly and wealthy man from the people of Yemen, but when Allaah Ta’ala intended good for him, He led him to the Imaam Wahab ibn Munabih –Rahimullaah. Imaam Wahab informed this man of their condition and warned him about their corrupt ideas and their danger to a man’s religious and worldly affairs. He did all this in a clear way, supported by evidences, which are easily understood by those of sound comprehension.
If you reflect upon what the Khawarij used to propagate during that period and also at this time, the saying of Allaah Ta’ala springs to mind:
تَشَابَهَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ قَدْ بَيَّنَّا الآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يُوقِنُونَ
<< Their hearts are alike; We have indeed made plain the signs for people who believe with certainty>> [al-Baqarah:118]
He is: Wahab ibn Munabih bin Kaamil bin Seej bin Dhi Kibaar Abu Abdullaah al-Yamaani as-Sanaani. His father came to Yemen from Khurasaan from Haraat.
Wahab was born in the year 34 A.H. during the Khilafah of ‘Uthmaan bin ‘Affaan – radiAllaahu anhu.
Wahab narrated on the authority of a group of the Companions, including Anas bin Maalik, Jaabir bin Abdullaah, Abdullaah bin ‘Abbas, Abdullaah ibn Umar, Abu Huraira and Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri.
He also narrated on the authority of: Tawoos bin Kaysaan, ‘Amroo bin Dinaar, ‘Amroo bin Shuaib, his own brother Hamaam bin Munabih and others.
Imaam Ahmad said: ‘He was from the children of Persia.’ Then he said: ‘Everyone from the people of Yemen who had the word ‘Dhi’ in his name was from the Shareef (from Bani Hashim), it is said: so-and-so has ‘Dhi’, and so and so has no ‘Dhi’.’[2]
Al-Ijaali said: He was a Tabi’ee (a successor of the Companions), trustworthy and he used to be a judge in Sana’.[3]
Abu Zurah, an-Nisaee and others regarded him as trustworthy.
He was a judge for Umar bin AbdulAzeez –Rahimullaah-in Sana’[4] and his hadeeth are to be found in Bukhari and Muslim. He had much knowledge of the People of the Book and he is counted as being from amongst the Zuhaad (those who abstain from loving worldly things) and the people of piety who would worship plentifully.
He died in the year 110 A.H. in Sana’ at the beginning of the Khilafah of Hisham bin Abdul Malik. It has been said that he died in the year 114 A.H. and Yaqoot deems this to be the stronger opinion in ‘Mu’ajam al-Udaba’.[5]
‘Abdus Salaam bin Burjis Aal ‘AbdulKareem
6/6/1418 A.H.
‘Alee bin al-Madinee said: Hisham bin Yusuf as-Sanaani Abu AbdurRahmaan the Qaadi of Sana’ narrated to us, that he said I was told by Daawood bin Qays that he said:
I had a friend from the house of Kholaan from the city of Hadoor, who was called Abu Shaamir Dhu-Kholaan.
I left Sana’ heading towards his village, as I came closer to his village I found a book which had stamped on its back: To Abu Shaamir Dhu-Kholaan.
When I reached him, I found him disturbed and saddened, so I asked him why, he said: A messenger came from Sana’ and mentioned that some friends of mine wrote a book and sent it to me and the messenger lost it. So I sent one of my slaves with him to search for it between my village and Sana’ and they did not find it, so I was concerned about it.
I said: Here is the book, I have just found it.
He said: ‘Praise be to Allaah who has made you find it.’ He opened it and began to read.
I said: Read it to me.
He said: Indeed I am younger than you in age.
I said: What is it?
He said: It is about striking necks.
I said: Perhaps those who wrote it are the people of al-Haroora who wrote regarding the Zakat (obligatory charity) of the ruler?
He said: From where do you know them?
I said: I and my friends sit with Wahab bin Munabih and he tells us: ‘Keep away from these gullible youth, these people of al-Haroora. You should take the opinion that opposes them, because they are the shameful ones of this Ummah.’
He pushed the book towards me, so I read and found it said:
Bismillah ar-Rahmanir – Raheem
To Abu Shaamir Dhu-Kholaan
Peace be upon you.
Indeed, we praise Allaah before you. There is no God except Him and we advise you with Taqwa of Allaah Alone, Who has no partner. Indeed the Deen of Allaah is guidance and the correct path in this world and it is salvation and success in the Hereafter. Indeed the Deen of Allaah is obedience to Allaah and it is opposition of that which goes against His Sharia’ and the Sunnah of His Prophet. So if this book of ours reaches you – if Allaah wills – then see to it that you give Allaah His right in what He has obligated upon you (Zakat). Give it to those who deserve the rule of Allaah and the rule of His ‘Aawliyaa (His close friends).
And peace be upon you and the mercy of Allaah.
Then I said to him: Indeed, I warn you against them.
He said: How can I follow what you say and leave the saying of the one who is older than you are?
I said: Would you like me to take you to Wahaab bin Munabih, so that you can listen to what he has to say and he will tell you about them.
He said: Yes.
So I went to Sana’ and he came with me, then we proceeded until I took him to see Wahab bin Munabih. Masood bin ‘Auf was the ruler over Yemen appointed by Urwa bin Muhammad. ‘Alee bin al-Madini said: he is Urwa bin Muhammad bin ‘Ateeyah as-Saadi and he was preceded by Saad bin Bakr bin Hoowazin.
We found a group of people who usually attended his gatherings, sitting with Wahab and some of them said to me: ‘Who is this Shaykh?’ I said: this is Abu Shaamir Dhu-Kholaan from the people of Hadoor and he has need of Abu Abdullaah.
They said: why don’t you mention it?
I said: Indeed, he wants to consult him regarding a private matter.
So the people left.
Wahab said: ‘What is your need O Dhu-Kholaan?’
Dhu-Kholaan began to speak but he mixed up his words and became scared to speak.
Wahaab said to me: ‘Speak on behalf of your Shaykh.’
So I said: Yes O Abu Abdullaah, verily Dhu-Kholaan is from the people of the Qur’aan and the people of righteousness, from what we know and Allaah is more knowledgeable about his personal affairs. He has informed me, that he came across a group of people from Sana’ who are from the people of Haroora and that they said to him: The Zakat that you give to the rulers is not compensated by Allaah as reward for you because the rulers do not spend it in its rightful place. So, you should give it to us, verily we will spend it in its rightful place – we will divide it amongst the poor Muslims and we will implement the Islamic punishments.
I thought that your speech O Abu Abdullaah would be more satisfactory to him than mine. He has mentioned to me that he gives them the harvests of one hundred Firqan (a quantity) on his riding animals and he sends it with his slave.
So, Wahab said to him: O Dhu-Kholaan do you wish to become a Harooreey now you have become old and ascribe misguidance to one who is better than you? What will you say to Allaah tomorrow when you stand in front of Him?
The one you testify against, Allaah testifies that he has Emaan while you testify that he has committed kufr. Allaah testifies that he is guided while you testify that he is misguided? So where will you be if your opinion is opposed by the command of Allaah and your testification is opposed by the testification of Allaah.
Tell me O Dhu-Kholaan what do they say to you?
So Dhu-Kholaan then spoke and he said to Wahab: They order me not to give Sadaqa (charity) except to those who hold their opinion and not to seek forgiveness except for them.
Wahab said: you have spoken the truth, this is their false love.
As for their statement about charity then indeed it has reached me that the Messenger of Allaah – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – mentioned a woman from the people of Yemen who entered the Fire due to her keeping a cat tied up, she neither fed it nor set it free to eat from the insects of the land.[6] So, is a person who worships Allaah, says that Allaah is Alone and does not associate anything with Him, more beloved to Allaah and worthier of being fed due to hunger or a cat?
And Allaah says in His Book:
وَيُطْعِمُونَ الطَّعَامَ عَلَى حُبِّهِ مِسْكِيناً وَيَتِيماً وَأَسِيراً إِنَّمَا نُطْعِمُكُمْ لِوَجْهِ اللَّهِ لَا نُرِيدُ مِنكُمْ جَزَاء وَلَا شُكُوراً إِنَّا نَخَافُ مِن رَّبِّنَا يَوْماً عَبُوساً قَمْطَرِيراً
<< And they give food, in spite of their love for it (or for the love of Him), to Miskin (poor), the orphan, and the captive, (Saying): ‘We feed you seeking Allaah’s Face only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you. Verily, we fear from our Lord a Day, hard and distressful, that will make the faces look horrible (from extreme aversion to it).’ >> [al-Insaan: 8-10]
He also mentions a difficult and angry day for the sinners due to Allaah’s wrath upon them.
فَوَقَاهُمُ اللَّهُ شَرَّ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ وَلَقَّاهُمْ نَضْرَةً وَسُرُوراً وَجَزَاهُم بِمَا صَبَرُوا جَنَّةً وَحَرِيراًمُتَّكِئِينَ فِيهَا عَلَى الْأَرَائِكِ لَا يَرَوْنَ فِيهَا شَمْساً وَلَا زَمْهَرِيراً وَدَانِيَةً عَلَيْهِمْ ظِلَالُهَا وَذُلِّلَتْ قُطُوفُهَا تَذْلِيلاً وَيُطَافُ عَلَيْهِم بِآنِيَةٍ مِّن فِضَّةٍ وَأَكْوَابٍ كَانَتْ قَوَارِيرَا قَوَارِيرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ قَدَّرُوهَا تَقْدِيراً وَيُسْقَوْنَ فِيهَا كَأْساً كَانَ مِزَاجُهَا زَنجَبِيلاً عَيْناً فِيهَا تُسَمَّى سَلْسَبِيلاً وَيَطُوفُ عَلَيْهِمْ وِلْدَانٌ مُّخَلَّدُونَ إِذَا رَأَيْتَهُمْ حَسِبْتَهُمْ لُؤْلُؤاً مَّنثُوراً وَإِذَا رَأَيْتَ ثَمَّ رَأَيْتَ نَعِيماً وَمُلْكاً كَبِيراً عَالِيَهُمْ ثِيَابُ سُندُسٍ خُضْرٌ وَإِسْتَبْرَقٌ وَحُلُّوا أَسَاوِرَ مِن فِضَّةٍ وَسَقَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ شَرَاباً طَهُوراً إِنَّ هَذَا كَانَ لَكُمْ جَزَاء وَكَانَ سَعْيُكُم مَّشْكُوراً
<< So Allaah saved them from the evil of that Day and gave them Nadratan (a light of beauty) and joy. And their recompense shall be Paradise and silken garments, because they were patient. Reclining therein on raised thrones, they will see there neither the excessive heat of the sun, nor the excessive bitter cold, (as in Paradise there is no sun and no moon). And the shade thereof is close upon them, and the bunches of fruit thereof will hang low within their reach. And amongst them will be passed around vessels of silver and cups of crystal, Crystal-clear, made of silver. They will determine the measure thereof according to their wishes. And they will be given to drink there a cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabîl (ginger, etc.). A spring there, called Salsabîl. And round about them will (serve) boys of everlasting youth. If you see them, you would think them scattered pearls. And when you look there (in Paradise), you will see a delight (that cannot be imagined) and a great dominion. Their garments will be of fine green silk and gold embroidery. They will be adorned with bracelets of silver and their Lord will give them a pure drink. (And it will be said to them): ‘Verily, this is a reward for you and your endeavour has been accepted.’>> [al-Insaan: 11-22]
Then Wahab said: Allaah Tabaraka wa Ta’ala continuously describes what He has prepared for them of the blessings of Paradise.
Then he said: As for their saying: ‘Forgiveness is not to be sought except for the one who holds their opinion.’ Are they better than the Angels?
And Allaah Ta’ala says in the Soorah of <<Ha-Mim, Ayeen, Seen, Qaaf>>:
وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ
<< The angels glorify the praises of their Lord and ask for forgiveness for those on the earth>> [Shuraa’: 5]
And I swear by Allaah that the Angels could not do this by themselves nor could they do this unless they were ordered because Allaah Ta’ala said:
لَا يَسْبِقُونَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ وَهُم بِأَمْرِهِ يَعْمَلُونَ
<<They speak not until He has spoken and they act on His Command>>
[Al-Anbiyya: 27]
Allaah has affirmed this Ayaat in Soorah << Ha mim…. >>[Shuraa’]
and it is explained in the major Soorah << Ha mim>>[Ghafir] where He said:
الَّذِينَ يَحْمِلُونَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُونَ بِهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ لِلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
<<Those (angels) who bear the Throne (of Allaah) and those around it glorify the praises of their Lord and believe in Him and ask forgiveness for those who believe>> [Ghafir: 7]
Do you not see O Dhu-Kholaan that I lived at the beginning times of Islaam and I swear by Allaah that the Khawarij did not have a group except that Allaah divided them because of their evil condition. Not one of the Khawarij came out with this opinion except that Allaah struck his neck and none of the Ummah ever gathered together under one man of the Khawarij.
If Allaah had given the Khawarij strength in their opinion, the world would have become corrupt and the highways would have been cut off, Hajj to the House of Allaah the Haraam would have stopped and the matter of Islaam would have returned to Jahileeyah, so much so that the people would seek help from mountain peaks as they used to in Jahileeyah.
Then there would stand more than ten or twenty men and there would not be a single one from amongst them except that he would call for Khilaafah for himself. With every one of these men there would be more than 10,000 people fighting each other, each group would testify to the disbelief of the other group until a believing man would become fearful for his self, his religion, his blood, his family and his wealth, he would not know which way to go, nor would he know whom he should be with.
However, Allaah has decided for this Ummah with His command, knowledge and mercy and He makes the best decision for them. He united them and placed love in their hearts for one man who was not from the Khawarij.
So Allaah protected their blood through him, covered up their and their offspring’s shortcomings and gathered all their different factions together through this one man. He made their highways safe and fought the enemy through this man even if it was only for the sake of the Muslims’ honour. He established the Islaamic punishments by way of him, justly judged the oppressed and strove against the oppressors. This man was a mercy from Allaah and he had mercy upon them due to the Mercy of Allaah.
Allaah Ta’ala said in His Book:
وَلَوْلاَ دَفْعُ اللّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُمْ بِبَعْضٍ لَّفَسَدَتِ الأَرْضُ وَلَـكِنَّ اللّهَ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى الْعَالَمِينَ
<< And if Allaah did not check one set of people by means of another, the earth would indeed be full of mischief. But Allaah is full of Bounty to all that exists >> [Baqarah: 251]
وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعاً وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنتُمْ أَعْدَاء فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُم بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَاناً وَكُنتُمْ عَلَىَ شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِّنَ النَّارِ فَأَنقَذَكُم مِّنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
<<And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah and be not divided among yourselves. And remember Allaah’s Favour on you, for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together so that, by His Grace, you became brethren and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire and He saved you from it. Thus Allaah makes HisAyaat clear to you, that you may be guided. >> [al-Imraan:103]
And Allaah Ta’ala said:
إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْأَشْهَادُ
<<Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection)>> [Ghafir: 51]
So where do they stand from the point of view of these Ayaat? If they were believers they would have been made victorious.
And He Ta’ala said:
وَلَقَدْ سَبَقَتْ كَلِمَتُنَا لِعِبَادِنَا الْمُرْسَلِينَ إِنَّهُمْ لَهُمُ الْمَنصُورُونَ وَإِنَّ جُندَنَا لَهُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ
<<And, verily, Our Word has gone forth of old for Our slaves, the Messengers, that they verily would be made triumphant and that Our hosts, they verily would be the victors. >> [Saffat 171-173]
So if they were the soldiers of Allaah they would have had victory in Islaam even if it was just once.
Allaah Ta’ala said:
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ رُسُلاً إِلَى قَوْمِهِمْ فَجَاؤُوهُم بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ فَانتَقَمْنَا مِنَ الَّذِينَ أَجْرَمُوا وَكَانَ حَقّاً عَلَيْنَا نَصْرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
<<And indeed We did send Messengers before you to their own people. They came to them with clear proofs, then We took vengeance on those who committed crimes (disbelief, setting partners in worship with Allaah, sins, etc.) and (as for) the believers it was incumbent upon Us to help (them).>> [Room :47]
So if they were believers they would have been made victorious.
Allaah Ta’ala said:
وَعَدَ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ لَيَسْتَخْلِفَنَّهُم فِي الْأَرْضِ كَمَا اسْتَخْلَفَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ وَلَيُمَكِّنَنَّ لَهُمْ دِينَهُمُ الَّذِي ارْتَضَى لَهُمْ وَلَيُبَدِّلَنَّهُم مِّن بَعْدِ خَوْفِهِمْ أَمْناً يَعْبُدُونَنِي لَا يُشْرِكُونَ بِي شَيْئاً
<<Allaah has promised those among you who believe and do righteous good deeds that He will certainly grant them succession in the earth as He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the authority to practise their religion, that which He has chosen for them. And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security after fear, provided they worship Me and do not associate anything (in worship) with Me. >> [Noor: 55]
So where do they stand in this regard? Are any one of them better informed about the Islaam from the days of Umar bin al-Khattab, when they are without a Khalifah or Jamaah and are without insight?
Allaah Ta’ala said:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَرْسَلَ رَسُولَهُ بِالْهُدَى وَدِينِ الْحَقِّ لِيُظْهِرَهُ عَلَى الدِّينِ كُلِّهِ
<<It is He Who has sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to make it superior over all religions >> [ Taubah: 33]
I testify that Allaah has fulfilled what He had promised the ahl-us-Sunnah giving them aid, strength and victory over their enemies and those who oppose the opinion of their Jamaah.
Wahab said: Has not what sufficed Ahl-ul-Tawheed, Ahl-ul-Qibla and the people who have accepted the rulings of Islaam – the Sunnan practices and obligations of Islaam – sufficed you O Dhu-Kholaan? that which sufficed the Prophet of Allaah Nuh in response to the idol-worshippers and Kuffar, when his people said to him:
قَالُوا أَنُؤْمِنُ لَكَ وَاتَّبَعَكَ الْأَرْذَلُونَ قَالَ وَمَا عِلْمِي بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ إِنْ حِسَابُهُمْ إِلَّا عَلَى رَبِّي لَوْ تَشْعُرُون
<<They said: “Shall we believe in you, when the meanest (of the people) follow you?” He said: “And what knowledge have I of what they used to do?” Their account is only with my Lord, if you could (but) know. >> [Shu’araa 111-113]
Are you not satisfied with what sufficed Allaah’s Prophet and friend Ibraheem in replying to the worshippers of idols, when he said:
وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَـذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِناً وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الأَصْنَامَ رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيراً مِّنَ النَّاسِ فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
<<And (remember) when Ibraheem said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) one of peace and security, and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind. But whoso follows me, he verily is of me and whoso disobeys me, – still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”>> [Ibraheem :35 -36]
Does not what sufficed Prophet Isa’ with the Kuffar– who took him as a god other than Allaah – suffice you O Dhu-Kholaan? Verily Allaah is pleased, until the Day of Judgement, with the sayings of Nuh, Ibraheem and Isa’ which the believers and those who come after them follow, by which I mean:
إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
<< “If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are The All-Mighty, The All-Wise.” >> [Maida: 118]
They (the believers) do not oppose the sayings of the Prophets of Allaah with their opinion, so whom will you follow, if you do not follow the Book of Allaah and the sayings and opinions of His Prophets?
Know, that your coming to see me is mercy for you if you have heard my speech and have accepted my advice to you. This is evidence against you tomorrow, when you meet Allaah, if you leave the Book of Allaah and return to the opinion of the Huroora.
Dhu-Kholaan said: So what do you command me to do?
Wahab said: As for your obligatory Zakat, then give it to the one whom Allaah has placed as a ruler over the affairs of this Ummah, and has gathered the people with him.
This is because the Dominion, indeed, is from Allaah Alone and it is in His Hand, He gives it to whom He wills and He takes it away from whom He wills. So he to whom Allaah gives rulership, none has the ability to take it away from him. So if you give your obligatory Zakat to the ruler then you have become free of it and if you have any extra then be good and give it to your relatives, those under your authority and your neighbours, from those who are needy, and be hospitable to the one who receives you as a guest.
Dhu-Kholaan stood up and said: I testify that I have relieved myself of the opinion of the Hurooreeyah and have believed in what you said.
Dhu-Kholaan died not very long after that.
All Praise belongs to Allaah, may His peace and blessings be upon our final Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions and all those who follow his guidance.
Footnotes
[2] Al-Illaal 2/52
[3] Thiqaat al-‘ijaali(476)
[4] Akhbaar al-Qudaat by Wakee’a (3/303)
[5] (15/260) see ‘Tadhkiratul Huffadh’ (1/100) and ‘Tadheeb al-Kamal’ (31/140-162)
[6] As narrated by al-Bukhari in ‘the beginning of creation, chapter: if a fly falls into your drink.’ (6/254). Also by Muslim in ‘Righteousness & keeping good relations’ no.(2242) On the authority of Ibn Umar. And Muslim narrated it On the authority of Abu Huraira.
https://abdurrahman.org/innovated-groups-sects/khawaarij/
Translated By Abbas Abu Yahya
Taken from ‘Silsilah as-Saheehah’ (5/12-13), & ‘Moonazaraat ‘aimmat as-Salaf’ p.89-91
When the Hurooreeyah rebelled, they isolated themselves in a place. There were 6000 of them and they were united in rebelling against ‘Alee.Continuously people would come to ‘Alee and say: OAmeer ul-Mu’mineen! Verily these people are rebelling against you.
He said: ‘Leave them, verily I will not fight them until they fight me and [they will fight me] that’s what they will do.’
So when it came to that day, I came to ‘Alee before the Zuhr prayer and I said to him: ‘O Ameer ul-Mu’mineen! Delay the prayer until it is cooler perhaps I will speak to these people.
He said: ‘Verily, I fear for you.’
I said: ‘Never! I used to be known as a man of good manners, I never harmed anyone.’
He gave me permission to go. So, I put on a very nice garment, the best of what one could get from Yemen and I combed my hair. Then, I visited them at midday whilst they were eating.
I had entered upon a people, the likes of whom I had never seen with regards to their exertion in worship. Their foreheads were wounded due toSujood (prostration) and their hands had become rough like camels’ feet, wearing recently washed, untidy shirts with very high, raised clothing with tired and worn out faces [due to not caring for themselves].
So, I gave salaams to them and they said, ‘Welcome O Son of Abbas! And what is this cloak you are wearing?’
I said, ‘what deficiency do you see from me?Indeed, I saw the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– dressed in the best of what you can find in Yemeni clothing, then I recited this verse
<<Say, who has forbidden the adornment given by Allaah, which He has produced for His slaves, and the good things He has provided>>[1]
Then they said, ‘What has brought you here?’
I said to them, ‘I have come to you from amongst the Companions of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam–the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar and from the son of the uncle of the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– (‘Alee), who is his son-in-law – and upon them descended the Qur’aan; and they are more knowledgeable about it than you and there is not one of them amongst you. I have come to convey to you what they say, and to convey to them, what you say.
A group amongst them said, ‘Do not debate with the Quraysh because verily Allaah, Azza wa Jaal, says
<<Nay! But they are a quarrelsome people>>[2],’
Then a group of them turned towards me and two or three of them said: ‘Verily, we will speak to him.’
So I said, ‘come forward, what is the grudge you have against the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah – and the son of his uncle (‘Alee).’
They said ‘three points’.
I said, ‘And what are they?’
They said: ‘Then one of the points is that he (‘Alee) had men judge in a matter of Allaah whilst Allaah said
<<The judgment is for none but Allaah>>[3]
What have men got to do with the Hukm?’
I said, ‘This is one point.’
They said, ‘As for the second point; then he fought and he did not take captives nor did he take the war booty, if they were Kuffaar, then their captives are permissible for us and if they were believers then their captives are not permissible to take nor was it allowed to fight them.’
I said, ‘This is the second point, and what is the third point?’ Or he said something similar.
They said: ‘He should remove the title of Ameer ul-Mu’mineen and if he is not the Ameer ul-Mu’mineenthen he is the Ameer ul-Kaafireen.’
I said, ‘Do you have any points other than this?’
They said: ‘This is sufficient for us.’
I said to them: ‘Do you understand, that if I read to you from the Book of Allaah, Jalla wa thanaa’ahu, and from the Sunnah of His Prophet – SallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – that which refutes what you say; will you return (back)?’
They said: ‘Yes.’
I said: “As for your statement That ‘Alee had men judge in a matter that was for Allaah; then I will read to you from the Book of Allaah, where Allaah has delegated His Hukm to men regarding the eighth of a quarter of a dirham. Allaah, Tabaraka wa Ta’aala, commanded the people to judge in this matter.
Do you not understand the saying of Allaah,Tabaraka wa Ta’aala:
<<O you who believe, do not kill the game while you are in a state of ihram, and whosoever of you kills it intentionally, then the penalty is an offering equivalent to the one he killed, as adjudged by two just men among you.>>[4]
And it is from the Hukm of Allaah that He delegated men to judge in this matter, if Allaah willed, He could have judged in this matter, but He allowed men to judge.
I ask you, for the sake of Allaah! Are men judging in reconciling in disputes and in preventing bloodshed or judging regarding hunting a rabbit better?”
They said: ‘Of course, this is better.’
‘And regarding a woman and her husband:
<< If you fear a breach between the husband and wife, appoint two arbitrators, one from his family and the other from hers >>[5]
Is not men judging in reconciling disputes and in the prevention of bloodshed better than men judging regarding the private parts of a woman?
Have we finished with this point?’
They said, ‘Yes.’
I said: ‘As for your statement, He fought but did not take captives and did not take war booty, then would you take your mother, Aa’ishah, as a captive, making her permissible for yourselves for that which you make permissible from other than her whilst she is your mother? If you say: “We make Halaalfrom her that which we make Halaal from other than her,” then you have made/committed Kufr. And if you say that, “she is not our mother,” then you have also made Kufr: <<The Prophet is closer to the believers than their own selves, and his wives are their mothers >>[6] and so you are between the two ill judgments. So, which of them do you want to take?
Have we finished with this point?’
They said: ‘Yes.’
‘As for ‘Alee removing the title of Ameer ul-Mu’mineen, then I will give you something that will please you: Verily, the Prophet of Allaah – made an agreement/contract with the Mushrikeen on the Day of Hudaybeeyah, and the Prophet –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said to ‘Alee: “Write, O ‘Alee! This is what Muhammad, the Messenger of Allaah, –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– agrees with.”
They, the Mushrikeen, said, “If we knew you to be the Messenger of Allaah, we would not have fought you.” So, the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– said: ‘Erase it, O ‘Alee! O Allaah, Indeed You know that I am the Messenger of Allaah, erase it O ‘Alee! And write this, “This is what Muhammad ibn Abdullaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– makes an agreement/contract upon.”’
I swear by Allaah, that the Messenger of Allaah –sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam– is better than ‘Alee and even he erased his own name and erasing his name does not erase his Prophet hood.
Have we finished with this point?’
They said: ‘Yes.’
‘2000 of them came back while the rest of them rebelled and fought, based upon their misguidance, and the Muhaajiroon and Ansaar fought them.[7]
The Takreej for this narration:
Narrated by ad-Darmi in his ‘Sunnan’ (1/68-69) & by Bahshal in ‘Tareekh Wasit’ this narration is reported on the authority of ‘Amr bin Salma. Authenticated by al-Albani.
There are other narrations of this story. It has been narrated by Abdullaah bin Ahmad in ‘Zawaid az-Zuhud’ (p.428) & by Abu Na’eem in ‘Hileeyat al-Awwleeyah’ (4/380-381). Also by Tabraani in ‘Kabeer’ (9/125-126), by AbdurRazaq in ‘al-Mussannaf’ (5409). Al-Haythamee narrated it in ‘Mua’jam az-Zawaid’ (1/181).
As for the narration of AbdurRazaq & Tabraani which has been authenticated by al-Haythamee in ‘mua’jam az-Zawaid’ (1/181).
The narration of Abu Na’eem in ‘al-Hileeyah’ was reported on the authority of Abu Za’raa.
This story has many other narrations, in ‘al-Kabeer’ and some of them were authenticated by al-Haythamee.
Taken from ‘Silsilah as-Saheehah’ (5/12-13), & ‘Moonazaraat ‘aimmat as-Salaf’ p.89-91
[1] Soorah Al-A’raf :32
[2] Soorah az-Zukhruf :58
[3] Soorah an-Anaam : 57 and Soorah Yusuf : 40 & 67
[4] Soorah al-Ma’idah : 95
[5] Soorah an-Nisa : 35
[6] Soorah al-Ahzab : 6
[7] Narrated by Abdur-Razzaq in his book ‘al-Musannaf’(18678), Ahmad (1/243), al-Haakim (2/150-152), Ibn Abdul Barr in his Jama’ Bayaan Uloom (2/962-964/ 1834) and others.
About the Book:
This is a complete translation of the small booklet “Al-Masaa’il-ul-Muntaqaat min Sifaat al-Khawaarij-ul-Ghulaat” [Selected Examples from the Characteristics of the Extremist Khawaarij] compiled and prepared by a student of knowledge, ‘Aadil bin ‘Alee Al-Furaydaan, and reviewed and examined by Shaikh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan and Shaikh Muhammad bin ‘Abdir-Rahmaan Al-Khumayyis.
In this treatise, the author briefly touches upon the definition, history, and characteristics of the Khawaarij, one of the first and most dangerous sects in Islamic history whose effects and ideologies continue to exist up to today and will remain until the Final Hour. The majority of the treatise is dedicated to outlining the major and distinguishing attributes of the Khawaarij, which the author counts at 58.
It is important to study and be aware of these attributes so that one may avoid characterizing himself with them and thus fall into the ranks of the Khawaarij. This is from the perspective of learning evil in order to avoid it. And it is also beneficial since today, the ways and ideologies of the Khawaarij are prevalent, as can be seen in terrorist acts, suicide missions, assassinations and political strife. So by understanding the characteristics of the Khawaarij, the reader will be able to identify the perpetrators of such crimes, acknowledge their remoteness from Islaam and the fact that they are indeed from the extremist Khawaarij.
Excerpts from the Book:
“The word Khawaarij is the plural of Khaarijee, and that refers to a person that removes himself from the obedience of the true ruler, outwardly proclaims opposition to him and incites the people against him.”
“If someone (1) outwardly proclaims rebellion against the Muslim rulers or (2) holds Muslims to be disbelievers due to major sins, apart from Shirk, or (3) justifies the views of the Khawaarij and considers it permissible to shed the blood of Muslims in the name of Jihaad in the Way of Allaah and in the name of changing an evil, then these are all factors for identifying the Khawaarij.”
“‘Alee tried to convince ‘Aa’ishah, Talhah and Az-Zubair of the pressing importance of first declaring allegiance to the ruler and then to seek retribution for the murder of ‘Uthmaan. The matter finally became resolved in their mutual agreement to that. However, on the following day, the callers to mischief mobilized their forces and began skirmishes and clashes on both sides. So the peace-makers from both groups thought that the other group had deceived the other, and fighting broke out. The battle that ensued, which later came to be known as the Battle of the Camel, ended with the death of Talhah, Az-Zubair and ten-thousand members from each group.”
“The Fifteenth Characteristic: They go to extremes in worship. So they perform acts of worship to the extent that those who see them become amazed with them and they become amazed with themselves. [As-Sunnah of Ibn Abee ‘Aasim (no. 945) from the hadeeth of Anas bin Maalik] Ibn ‘Abbaas said: ‘And I have not seen a people that are stricter in their exertion (of worship) than them. Their hands are like the calluses of camels and their foreheads are marked due to the traces of prostration.’ [Majma’-uz-Zawaa’id (6/240)]”
The Following short articles are extracted from this eBook:
Origins of Khawaarij – Aadil bin ‘Alee Al-Furaydaan
Attributes and Characteristics of Khawaarij – Aadil bin ‘Alee Al-Furaydaan
AUTHOR: Imaam Muqbil bin Haadee Al-Waadi’ee
TRANSLATED: Al-Ibaanah Book Publishing
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com
About the Book:
This is a translation of the small treatise titled “Hiwaar ma’a Jamaa’at at-Takfeer” (A Debate with the Jamaa’at at-Takfeer) by Imaam Muqbil bin Haadee Al-Waadi’ee, may Allaah have mercy on him. The source used for this e-book was the treatise that is found within Imaam Muqbil’s book Fadaa’ih wa Nasaa’ih (pg. 168-186) [Dar-ul-Haramain: 1st Edition; 1999]
In this treatise, Imaam Muqbil refutes the false concepts of the Takfeeri Jamaa’at, a group that was founded in Egypt by a man named Shukree Mustafaa, and which later spread to other Muslim countries. Their beliefs revolve around declaring Muslims to be disbelievers, hence the name Jamaa’at at-Takfeer, declaring the leaders infidels and actively calling the people to revolt against the Muslim governments and anyone that supports them. Even though Mustafaa was executed in 1978, the false concepts of his group have still managed to creep into the hearts of many Muslims today.
This treatise is especially important, since it deals with the beliefs of those who in recent times call to rebellion, revolution, terrorism and those who seek to spread instability in the Muslim lands as well as throughout the world.
Quotes from the Book:
“The best remedy for them is to seek knowledge. As for one of them remaining ignorant and not knowing anything about the Arabic language, and then he says: ‘We are men and the Companions are (also) men’, then yes, you are men and the Companions, too, are men. However, the difference between you and the Companions is like the difference between the heavens and the earth.”
“Who is it that the Jamaa’at at-Takfeer preys on? They prey on those individuals who have enthusiasm and zeal for their Religion based on ignorance. The founder of the Jamaa’at at-Takfeer, which has appeared during these recent times, was Shukree Mustafaa Al-Misree, who used to be part of the Bankrupt Brotherhood (Ikhwaan-ul-Muslimeen). Then he experienced great trials in prison and was hardened along with a group of individuals. The governments (at that time) strove hard to disunite the Muslims. So this group would call themselves the Jamaa’at-ul-Hijrah (The Party of Withdrawal). This Shukree Mustafaa used to have some knowledge and he would challenge the faculty of the Azhar University to debate with him, but the Azharees would be afraid due to two reasons: First: All that many of them had to offer was a scanty portion of knowledge of Hadeeth and knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah. So they were either only strong in their knowledge of Grammar or their knowledge of Fiqh. Second: They feared that if they beat him, he and his group (Jamaa’at) would come to them at night and kill them. As a result of this, the group grew and spread. So it originated in the Jamaal ‘Abdun-Naasir Prison and then spread to Sudan and to the lands of the Sacred Precincts (Makkah and Madeenah), inconspicuously, and to Yemen, openly. Jamaa’at Ansaar-us-Sunnah rose against them in Sudan after we said that there were some individuals from the Jamaa’at at-Takfeer amongst them. So they feared that people would hear this speech and therefore not support them anymore.”
“So the one who these Takfeeris prey on is the individual who has lots of zeal for the Religion based on ignorance. I challenge all of them – the Egyptians, Sudanese, Yemenis, Kuwaitis and Algerians among them to bring forth one scholar from amongst them. And they claim that they strive hard to have a scholar amongst their ranks! We seek refuge in Allaah from any scholar agreeing with your Da’wah, for he would then be one of the dogs of the Hellfire on the Day of Judgement, and he would shoot out from the Religion just as an arrow shoots out from the hunted game.”
“This is how Ahlus-Sunnah is, may Allaah preserve them – they are the ones who confront the people of falsehood, such as the Jamaa’at at-Takfeer. Don’t think that I am condoning the other groups, for I consider them to be the product of ignorance and calamities caused by the enemies of Islaam in order to split up the ranks of the Muslims. So I say to the Jamaa’at at-Takfeer: You must repent to Allaah and ask the people of knowledge (when you are unaware of matters), as Allaah says in His Noble Book: ‘So ask the People of the Reminder if you don’t know.’ [Surah An-Nahl: 43] This is since if you were to ask one of them what’s your proof on raising the hands in prayer, you would find him saying: ‘I don’t know.’ Or if you were to ask him what’s your proof for prostrating on the seven limbs, he would reply: ‘I don’t know.’ But yet after all that, he puts himself in charge of declaring Muslims to be disbelievers! So take things easy, you small ignoramus! How can you put yourself in charge of declaring Muslims to be disbelievers?? By doing this, you would be assisting the Communists, the Ba’athees, the Naasirees and the governments, rather, the enemies of Islaam, in splitting up the ranks of the Muslims. Then you would just dwindle away (and be forgotten) like Shabeeb, Naafi’ bin al-Araq, ‘Imraan bin Hattaan and other heads of the Khawaarij. So the ignorant ones melt way, but the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger remains and continues.”
The following short articles extracted from the above eBook:
Some Questions and Answers related to Jamaa’at at-Takfeer – Shaykh Muqbil
AUTHOR: Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan
SOURCE: Lamha ‘an-il-Firaq-id-Daalah (pg. 31-37) w/ notes by Shabbaab Ar-Raajihee
PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com
The Khawaarij are those who revolted (i.e. made khurooj) against the ruler during the last part of ‘Uthmaan’s Khilaafah. Their revolting resulted in the murder of ‘Uthmaan (radyAllaahu ‘anhu).
Then their evil increased during the Khilaafah of ‘Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) and they rebelled against him, declaring him to be a disbeliever. They also pronounced disbelief on the Companions, because they would not agree with them in their (false) beliefs. So they ruled that all those who opposed them in their views were disbelievers. As a result, they pronounced disbelief on the best amongst creation – the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Why was this (?) – because they did not agree with them on their misguidance and disbelief.
Their Beliefs: They do not adhere to the Sunnah and the Jamaa’ah, nor do they obey the leader. Rather, they hold rebelling against him and renouncing allegiance to him to be from the Religion,[1] contrary to the advice of Allaah’s Messenger of giving obedience and contrary to what Allaah has commanded in His saying: “Obey Allaah and obey the Messenger and those in authority amongst you.” [Surah An-Nisaa: 59]
So Allaah made obeying the ruler part of the Religion, and the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) made obeying the ruler part of the Religion, as is found in his saying: “I counsel you to have Taqwaa of Allaah and to hear and obey, even if a slave should take command over you. For indeed, whosoever lives amongst you, will see many differences…” [2]
So obeying the Muslim Ruler is part of the Religion (of Islaam). But the Khawarij say: “No, we are free (from this).” This is the way of insurrection and rebellion today!
So the Khawaarij are those who seek to cause division to the main unified body of Muslims and to revolt against the leaders – and there is disobedience to Allaah and His Messenger in doing this. They also hold that the person who commits a major sin is a disbeliever.
So someone that commits a major sin – a fornicator, a thief, one who drinks alcohol, for example – are all considered disbelievers by them. On the contrary, Ahl-us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah hold such a person as a “Muslim with deficient Eemaan”[3] and they call him a “sinner in the Religion.” So he is a “believer” due to his Eemaan, while being a “sinner” due to his major sin. This is because nothing expels one out of the fold of Islaam except Shirk and the well-known things that nullify one’s Islaam. As for the sins that are below Shirk, then they do not cause one to be expelled from the fold of Eemaan, even if they are major sins. Allaah says: “Verily Allaah does not forgive that Shirk (association of partners in worship) be committed with Him, but he forgives what is lower than that (of sins) to whom He wills.” [Surah an-Nisaa: 48, 116]
The Khawaarij say: “The one who commits a major sin is a disbeliever, he will not be forgiven and he will reside in the Hellfire forever.” And this is contrary to what is stated in the Qur’aan. The reason for this is because they do not have understanding (of the Religion).
Take note that the cause for their falling into these (false beliefs) was their lack of knowledge. This is because they are a people intense in their worship, prayer, fasting and recitation of the Qur’aan. And they have a strong fervor for the Religion, but they do not have knowledge – and this is the problem.
So going to great lengths and exerting oneself in piety and worship must be accompanied by knowledge and understanding of the Religion. This is why the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) described them to his Companions in the following manner: That the Companions would look down upon their own prayer as compared to their prayer and on their worship as compared to their worship. Then he said: “They will shoot out from the Religion just as the arrow shoots out from a hunted game”[4] – in spite of their worship and in spite of their righteousness and their praying Tahajjud at night.
So because their exertion was not based upon a correct foundation, nor upon authentic knowledge, it became a misguidance, a plague and evil upon them and upon the ummah.
And furthermore, it is not known from the Khawaarij – for one day – that they fought against the disbelievers ever! Instead, they only fight with the Muslims, as the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “And they will kill the People of Islaam, while leaving alone the people of Awthaan (idols).” [5]
So we have not come to know in the history of the Khawaarij that one day they fought against the disbelievers and polytheists. Rather, they are always fighting against the Muslims. They killed ‘Uthmaan and they killed ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib. They killed Az-Zubayr Ibn-ul-‘Awaam and killed the best of the Companions. And they have not stopped killing Muslims.
And this is all due to their ignorance of the Religion of Allaah. But in spite of this, they had piety and worship, but since these were not founded upon authentic knowledge, it became a disease on them. This is why the great scholar, Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullaah) said in his description of them:
“They have textual evidences, which they fall short of in understanding
So they have been given shortness in knowledge.” [6]
So they use texts as evidences but yet they do not comprehend them. They use as evidence texts from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah concerning the threat for committing sins, but they do not comprehend their meanings. They do not refer them back to the other texts, in which there is found a promise for forgiveness and the acceptance of repentance for those whose sins are less than Shirk. So they accept one part and leave off another part – all of this due to their ignorance.
So having an over-protective love for the Religion and enthusiasm are not sufficient. They must be founded upon knowledge and understanding of Allaah’s Religion. This is so that they can be produced from knowledge and so that they can be put in their proper place.
So over-protective love for the Religion is good and enthusiasm is good, but they must be guided and directed by the following of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah.
There is no one with more precedence in the Religion nor more sincere to the Muslims than the Sahaabah (the Comapnions), but in spite of that, they fought against the Khawaarij due to their danger and their evil.
‘Alee bin Abee Taalib fought against them such that he slaughtered them with the worst of killings in the incident of Nahrawaan. By doing this, he realized what the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) informed us of in that the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) gave the good tidings to the one who killed them of goodness and Paradise. So ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib, he was the one who killed them – so he received this good tiding from Allaah’s Messenger.[7] He killed them in order to prevent their evil from befalling the Muslims.
It is an obligation on the Muslims in every generation, if they should become aware of the existence of this wicked methodology, that they remedy it by calling to the Way of Allaah first and educating the people about it. But if they do not accept this, then they must fight against them in order to prevent their evil.
‘Alee bin Abee Taalib (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) sent his cousin, ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Abbaas – the Habr (scholar) of the ummah and the Turjumaan (Interpreter) of the Qur’aan – to them. So he debated with them and six thousand amongst them repented and returned back, but many remained behind and did not repent. So at this point, the Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen, ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib, along with the Sahaabah, fought against them. This was in order to prevent their evil and harm from befalling the Muslims.
So this is the sect known as Al-Khawaarij and their beliefs.
Footnotes:
[1] In our time, perhaps the one who believes that we must hear and obey the leaders in matters that are not sinful, are labeled as government agents or kiss-ups or gullible simpletons! So you will see them attacking the leaders and exposing their faults to the public from the mimbars and in their gatherings. And Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever desires to advise the sultaan (authority) about a matter, then he must not expose it in public, but rather he should take him by his hand and go in privacy with him. So if he accepts (the advice) then that is (reward) for him, and if he doesn’t (accept) then he has conveyed what will be held against him.” Reported by Ahmad (3/404) from the narration of ‘Iyyaad bin Ghanam (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) Ibn Abee ‘Aasim also reported it in his book As-Sunnah (2/522).
And when the leader bars one of them from speaking in public gatherings, they rally together and go out in demonstrations, thinking – out of ignorance on their part – that barring someone from speaking or putting someone in jail justifies rebellion! Did they not hear the Prophet’s statement found in the narration of ‘Awf bin Maalik Al-Ashja’ee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) in Saheeh Muslim (1855): “…No, so long as they establish the prayer.” And in the hadeeth of ‘Ubaadah bin As-Saamit (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) found in the two Saheeh Collections, the Prophet said: “…unless you see clear and open disbelief, by which you will have proof before Allaah in the matter.” This was his (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) response to the Companions when they questioned him, seeking permission to fight against the oppressive leaders.
Do they not know how long Imaam Ahmad remained locked up in prison? And where did Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah die?! Wasn’t Imaam Ahmad put in jail for several years and whipped because he would not say that the Qur’aan was created? So why then did he not order the people to revolt against the Khaleefah? Don’t they know that Shaikh-ul-Islaam stayed in prison for more than two years and died while in it? Why did he not command the people to revolt against the leader? And on top of this, these scholars had a high position in terms of virtue and knowledge, so what about those who are less than them??? Indeed these ideologies and actions did not come to us except after the youth began to take their knowledge from such and such modern-day thinker and from such and such literary poet and from such and such Islamic writer, abandoning the scholars and placing their books behind their backs to be forgotten! Wa laa hawla wa laa quwata ilaa billaah!
[2] An authentic hadeeth reported by Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, At-Tirmidhee, Al-Haakim and many others [Abridged by the translator].
[3] Even if they commit a sin thinking it to be trivial (Istikhfaaf), they do not commit disbelief so long as they do not make it lawful (Istihlaal), contrary to what some of them say: That a person who commits a sin thinking it to be trivial, commits disbelief that takes him out from the Religion. This statement is the essence of the beliefs of the Khawaarij as our Shaikh, Shaikh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez Ibn ‘Abdillaah Bin Baaz said when he was asked about it in Taa’if in 1415H.
[4] Part of a long hadeeth reported by Ahmad, Muslim, Al-Bukhaaree and others from several of the Companions [Abridged by the translator]
[5] Part of a long hadeeth reported by Ahmad, Muslim, Al-Bukhaaree and others [Abridged by the translator]
[6] Nooniyyah of Ibn Al-Qayyim (pg. 97)
[7] Al-Bukhaaree reported in his Saheeh (6930), Muslim in his Saheeh (1066), Ahmad in his Musnad (1/113), Ibn Abee ‘Aasim in his As-Sunnah (914) and ‘Abdullaah bin al-Imaam Ahmad in his As-Sunnah (1487): From ‘Alee (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: “I heard Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: ‘Towards the last days, a people will emerge who will be young in age and have foolish ideas. They will speak with the best speech of the creatures. Their Eemaan will not go past their throats. So wherever you encounter them, kill them, for indeed there will be a reward for the one who kills them on the Day of Judgement.’”
After narrating a hadeeth about the Khawaarij and their signs, Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudree (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said: “Twenty or more than twenty of the Companions of Allaah’s Messenger narrated to me that ‘Alee was in charge of killing them.” Reported by Ahmad in his Musnad (3/33) and his son ‘Abdullaah in As-Sunnah (1512).
AbdurRahman.Org 