Who are the Khawarij or Khawarajites?

In A Nutshell The Khawarij were a radical fringe movement that emerged during the early days of Islam, defining themselves through their extreme stance on major sins and belief in the legitimacy of armed rebellion against Muslim rulers they deemed unjust. They viewed even grave sinners as apostate unbelievers and held a literal, rigid interpretation of Quranic injunctions. The Khawarij splintered into numerous groups throughout Islamic history, and their beliefs have been condemned by the majority of Sunni and Shia Muslims. While modern-day groups sometimes bear the Khawariji label, most contemporary Muslims find their extremist positions objectionable, emphasizing the importance of a balanced, holistic understanding of Islam rooted in mercy and social harmony. Introduction to the Khawarij The Schism Within Early Islam: The birth of the Khawarij movement is inextricably linked to the political turmoil and civil strife known as the First Fitna. Following the assassination of the third caliph, Uthman (as), Ali (as) took leadership of the Muslim community. Mu'awiyah, then governor of Syria, contested Ali's (as) authority, leading to the Battle of Siffin. Ali's Acceptance of Arbitration: Facing a stalemate, Ali (as) agreed to arbitration with Mu'awiya, a decision a sizable faction of his army found deeply unacceptable. They broke away from Ali's (as) supporters, believing compromise in matters of faith and rule was an act of heresy, using the slogan, "judgment belongs to God alone." Defining the Khawarij: The word "Khawarij" comes from the Arabic root "kharaja," meaning "to exit or secede." They earned this label due to their breakaway from the main body of Muslims. The Khawarij are also called "al-Shurat" ("the Exchangers"), reflecting their belief that they "traded" this world for the Hereafter. Evidences Cited Quranic Verses "[If two parties of believers fight against each other], make peace between them; but then if one of the two goes on acting wrongfully against the other, fight the one that acts wrongfully until it reverts to Allah’s command" (49:9) "Whoever kills a believer deliberately, their reward will be Hell" (4:93) "There is no compulsion in religion..." (2:256) "...And let there be [arising] from you a nation inviting to [all that is] good, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong…” (3:104) Hadith The Prophet (pbuh) said: "There will appear in the last days ... young people with foolish dreams. They will speak the best of words but they will leave Islam as an arrow goes through its game. Their prayer will not go beyond their throats..." The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Whosoever rebels against my ruler… has rebelled against me". (Multiple hadith narrate Ali's (as) attempts to reason with the Khawarij before the Battle of Nahrawan.) Sahaba Sayings/Opinions Narrations of prominent sahaba condemning the Khawarij (such as Ibn Abbas, Abdullah ibn Mas'ud) for their harsh treatment of Muslims accused of disbelief, citing specific incidents. The Khawarij The presented evidences paint a complex portrait of the Khawarij and their place within the history of Islam. Central to understanding the Khariji mindset are several key theological doctrines and interpretations: Takfir as a Weapon: Perhaps most distinctively, the Khawarij liberally employed the practice of takfir (declaring other Muslims infidels), particularly based on actions. They believed anyone committing a major sin effectively exited the fold of Islam, becoming open to violence and condemnation. This contrasts with the mainstream concept of major sins rendering believers fallible but not disbelievers. Literalism and Rejection of Interpretation: Khawariji thought prioritized a literal, surface-level reading of the Quran and Sunnah without due consideration for context or allegorical interpretations. Their strict adherence to outward acts often lacked appreciation for internal states of intent and complex realities. Zeal Misplaced: Their zeal for establishing what they believed an absolutely pure Muslim society blinded them to principles of forgiveness, flexibility, and brotherhood. Verses emphasizing justice and combating unjust authority (like 49:9) fueled their convictions, yet disregarded verses stressing mercy and avoiding religious compulsion (2:256, 3:104). The "Foolish Dreams" of Violence: The hadith describing "young people…[leaving] Islam as an arrow goes through its game” prophetically captures the misguided fervor associated with Khawariji actions. However, their willingness to turn swords against fellow Muslims clashed fundamentally with hadiths like "Whosoever rebels against my ruler… has rebelled against me," urging obedience and conflict resolution instead of bloodshed. Sahaba Condemnation: The narrations of prominent companions denouncing the Khawarij highlight that their extremism was a deviation even in their own volatile era. Their treatment of fellow Muslims as deserving execution violated not only Islamic law but the sanctity of human life cherished by Islam. Scholarly Insights: The views of Imam al-Ghazali, Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Shatibi, and contemporary scholars offer invaluable lenses to understand the dangers of the Khariji path. Each would likely condemn core Khawariji beliefs (excessive takfir, rigid literalism, rebellion against valid leaders) but might diverge on factors driving their radicalization and appropriate reactions to their presence. In summary, the Khawarij present a case study of an ideology built on a selective, harsh understanding of Islam taken to its logical extreme. They serve as a reminder of the crucial Islamic importance of balance, compassion, and scholarly consensus rather than individual whims and fancies in applying Islamic rulings. Misconceptions All dissenters were Khawarij: While the Khawarij arose from dissidence, not all those who criticized Muslim rulers shared their beliefs or methodology. The Khawarij had a specific set of theological doctrines and engaged in violence that distinguishes them. The Khawarij were unified: Despite common threads, the Khawarij comprised numerous factions with differing views on who is a Muslim and acceptable tactics. Some branches were more extreme than others. They disappeared from history: Groups labeled as "Khawariji" or espousing similar ideas have resurfaced at various points in history. However, modern Muslims broadly reject this ideological path as heretical. Khawarij were ignorant: Some early Khawarij held strong memorization of Islamic texts, yet lacked scholarly depth in the ability to contextualize and analyze their meaning. Ironically, it's their flawed use of Islamic knowledge that fuels their dangerous rigidity. Pitfalls Undermining social order: The Khawarij ideology breeds chaos, fracturing the Muslim community into warring camps of self-proclaimed "true believers." It opens the door to endless cycles of violence. Justification of atrocities: Takfir as liberally employed by the Khawarij removes ethical constraints, normalizing bloodshed and targeting innocent Muslims. It provides convenient rationale for the worst kinds of injustices. Spiritual arrogance: At its core, the Khawariji mindset fosters hubris. It judges righteousness solely on outward manifestations, neglecting inner states and struggles with sin, which all humans grapple with. Exploitation by manipulative agents: Even those with sincere initial intentions regarding reform were vulnerable to falling prey to demagogues and power-hungry leaders using their rigid religious views for ulterior motives. FAQs - Khawarajites Where was the line between legitimate dissent and Khawariji rebellion? Mainstream Sunni scholarship holds that while criticizing and offering advice to an unjust ruler is permitted and commendable, taking up arms against an established Muslim leader who maintains basic tenets of Islam leads to fitna (strife) and chaos. Wasn't Ali (as) himself assassinated? Aren't there cases of justified revolt? Ali's (as) case highlights the complexity of fitna. Some argued his acceptance of arbitration weakened his claim to lead. Yet, there's disagreement over whether his assassin was truly part of an early Khawariji sect. Scholars may cite extreme scenarios (leader openly renounces Islam) as potential exceptions, but these have high criteria. What makes them so appealing to youth? Their message taps into youthful desire for purity and quick moral fixes, neglecting the complexities of life and Islamic jurisprudence. Khawariji ideology offers a distorted sense of heroism and martyrdom. What about verses on fighting? The Quranic guidance on warfare is heavily rooted in specific contexts, primarily self-defense or combating clear tyranny preventing worship itself. It is not a blank check for rebellion. Conclusion The Khawarij stand as a cautionary tale throughout Islamic history. Their origin story is a poignant reminder that political turmoil and fractured leadership can give rise to extremism masquerading as religious zeal. Despite their initial emphasis on piety, their doctrines spiraled into un-Islamic territory, sanctioning violence against fellow Muslims and destabilizing Muslim societies from within. The majority of Sunni and Shia scholars have, over the centuries, clearly refuted core Khawariji tenets as misguided and incompatible with the values of Islam. Nevertheless, understanding the Khawarij is relevant for contemporary Muslims. Extremist groups still surface today, sometimes borrowing Khawariji-like elements – excessive takfir, a narrow reading of scriptures, and justifying indiscriminate brutality. These serve as crucial warnings against falling into the same theological traps that plagued the Khawarij.