By: Bahanad
Mention of Their Ideology in the Quran
Before shedding light on the actions and historical mistakes of the Kharijites, let’s first see what Allah Almighty has said in His words about their ultimate fate.
Allah Almighty commands:
قُلْ هَلْ نُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِالْأَخْسَرِينَ أَعْمَالًا الَّذِينَ ضَلَّ سَعْيُهُمْ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَهُمْ يَحْسَبُونَ أَنَّهُمْ يُحْسِنُونَ صُنْعًا. (الکھف:۱۰۳،۱۰۴)
Translation: Say, (O Muhammad): «Shall We tell you who will be the greatest losers in respect of their works? They are those whose efforts are in vain in this worldly life, while they think they are doing good!”
Imam Al-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates an incident in his Tafsir, where Ibn al-Kawwa’ (an important figure among the Kharijites) asked Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) about a particular verse: «Who are these people?»
Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: «You and your companions.»
In another place Allah Almighty commands:
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ آيَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ
Translation: He is the One Who has revealed to you ˹O Prophet˺ the Book, of which some verses are precise—they are the foundation of the Book—while others are elusive.1 Those with deviant hearts follow the elusive verses seeking ˹to spread˺ doubt through their ˹false˺ interpretations. (Aali ‘Imran: 7)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) narrates a hadith in his Tafsir on the authority of Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) and writes:
وقال الإمام أحمد: حدثنا أبو كامل، حدثنا حماد، عن أبي غالب قال : سمعت أبا أمامة يحدث، عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في قوله: فأما الذين في قلوبهم زيغ فيتبعون ما تشابه منه قال : » هم الخوارج.
Translation: Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates from the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that those who seek the meanings of ambiguous verses and wish to spread discord, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said they are the Kharijites.
The first fitnah (trial) of the Kharijites arose over material possessions and the acquisition of wealth, as Dhu-l-Khuwaisira had objected to the distribution of war booty.
Thus, from these verses and hadiths, it becomes clear that all the actions they have performed and will perform, which they carry out in the name of religion and caliphate, are actually motivated by materialism and the pursuit of wealth.
Concerning this issue, other verses were also revealed, which many commentators have attributed to the Kharijites in their authoritative books.
For instance, the following verse has been attributed to the Kharijites by Abdullah Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him):
يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ وُجُوهٌ وَتَسْوَدُّ وُجُوهٌ
Translation: On that Day some faces will be bright while others gloomy. (Aali ‘Imran: 106)
-To be continued — In Shaa Allah
