Who Were the Khawarij Mentioned in Prophet’s Hadith?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
Who were the Khawarij the Prophet (Allah bless and give him peace) referred to in hadith, and what are their characteristics according to authentic narrations?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
Allah Most High says:
“(O believers!) Always turn to Him (in repentance), be mindful of Him, and establish prayers. And do not be polytheists— (like) those who have divided their faith and split into sects, each rejoicing in what they have.” [Quran, 30:32]
The Khawarij, referred to in various hadiths of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), were a sect that emerged during the time of the fourth Caliph, Sayyiduna ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him). They were known for their extreme interpretation of Islam and their rebellion against legitimate Muslim rulers.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) described their characteristics in several authentic narrations. He said:
“There will come a people at the end of time, young in age and foolish in thought, who will recite the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats. They will speak of the best of speech among creation, yet they will pass through Islam as an arrow passes through its target. So, wherever you meet them, kill them, for in killing them, there is a reward on the Day of Judgment for the one who does so.” [Bukhari; Muslim]
Characteristics of the Khawarij
- Superficial Quran Recitation: They recite the Quran but lack proper understanding.
- Harshness and Extremism: They show excessive zeal in religion, declaring Muslims who commit sins as disbelievers.
- Rebellion Against Authority: They reject the authority of legitimate Muslim rulers.
- Young and Rash: Their followers are often young and immature, prone to rash actions.
The Khawarij emerged historically after the Battle of Siffin and opposed Sayyiduna ‘Ali (Allah be pleased with him). Scholars warn against adopting their extreme tendencies, emphasizing the importance of following the balanced, mainstream understanding of Islam.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Mohammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.
