The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: There would arise at the end of the age a people who would be young in age and immature in thought, but they would talk (in such a manner) as if their words are the best among the creatures. They would recite the Qur’an, but it would not go beyond their throats, and they would pass through the religion as an arrow goes through the prey. So when you meet them, kill them, for in their killing you would get a reward with Allah on the Day of Judgement. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Numerous hadith have talked about the Khawarij reaching some 44 hadiths. These hadiths have been reported through 24 companions; three from Ali ibn Abi Talib, five from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, and four each from Anas ibn Malik and Abdul Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-Aas, God bless them. However, only 27 are authentic some of which even reached the level of mutawātir, and some agreed by both al-Bukhari and Muslim. Seventeen are considered weak due to deficiencies in their chain or text. Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal says in this regard: “hadiths about the Kharijites are authentic based on paths. Muslim in his Saheeh and Bukhari have reported some of them.”

Collectively these hadiths present the qualities of the Kharijitesof whom the Prophet (PBUH) foretold would appear in the Muslim ummah and cautioned people due to the threat they present and the ease of being deceived by them. The scholars have varied definitions of and characteristics of this deviant group. We can derive from their definitions that the Kharijites “unjustly accuse Muslims of disbelief and by doing so render their blood permissible”. Such accusations of disbelief take on many forms such as the perpetrator of major sin or sin in general, or based on what is not actually a sin, or accusing of disbelief based on conjecture, suspicions and possibilities, or based on disputed matters, or without following due process, and by such means they render the inviolable blood of innocents permissible based on their accusations of disbelief.

Mention of the Kharijites and their attributes became prominent in Muslim literature following the emergence of extremist movements in Muslim societies beginning with the Takfir wal Hijra movement in Egypt in the mid-seventies. They were compared with the Kharijites that emerged at the time of the first sedition between Ali may Allah be pleased with him and Muawiya in 36AH. Such a comparison was extended to each extremist group that emerged in Muslim societies which have been plagued by a good number of extremist groups in recent history. In this context, we compare the attributes described in the 27 authentic hadiths on the Kharijites with what we know of Daesh and groups extremist jihadist groups. We engage in an extrapolation of history to understand their views and perceptions in comparison with those of the historical Khawarij, and whether the Prophet’s (PBUH) warning applies to Daesh and like groups or not.

Through the analytical study of the hadiths about the Khawarij and our attempt to extract common attributes, it will become evident that numerous qualities are shared between both groups thereby rendering the Prophet’s (PBUH) warning applicable to Daesh and like groups.

–           The hadiths collectively highlight that the Kharijites engage in the practice of takfir (accusing others of disbelief) towards the majority of Muslims. They label Muslim nations as infidel nations and affirm the need to emigration to regions under their control and influence. This is the exact practise of Daesh who call all Muslims disbelievers and call for migration to the areas they control.

–           They charge all who disagree with apostasy and blasphemy, treason and infidelity. This practice is embodied by Daesh and other movements who kill those who refuse to join them and do not hesitate to kill those who disagree with their slogans such as ‘We are the Islamic state’ even though their refusal is not a sin. In the same fashion, the Kharijites in the days of Imam Ali branded the companions with disbelief for accepting arbitration, although it is not a sin.

–           Daesh distort verses in the Quran to justify their killing of Muslims. Such was the practice of the Kharijites. Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, commented on this saying: “They referred to the verses revealed in the infidels and associated it with the believers”. This is evident in extremist propaganda by which they distort the verses referring to the disbelievers who have shown enmity to Islam and Muslims and applied them to Muslims.

–           The authentic hadiths refer to the youth as those who will join this group. This is due to the impulsivity of the youthful spirit without proper deliberation. Most studies such as those by the International Centre for the Study of Extremism and Political Violence have indicated that the majority of those belonging to Daesh and al-Nusrah are from Europe and in their 20s. The Centre for the Fight against Extremism in France (CPDSI) found that 30% of the extremists in France are under the age of 18 years and 39% were between 18 and 21 years old, and 31% between 21-28 years.

–           Most of the hadiths described the Kharijites as foolish with limited intellect and understanding. They possess a skewed and sterile sense of reality. This embodies the position of Daesh in its claims that it is an Islamic caliphate while they lack awareness as to what that is in reality. The witness testimonies from repentant Daesh support that they are intellectually vacant and are do not realise the gravity of their actions.

–           The hadiths described the Kharijites as considering themselves the best of humanity. They read the Quran as if it is exclusive to them and that they are practising its dictates. This is reflected in the first Kharijites who abandoned Imam Ali when they interpreted the verse: “Judgement is Allah’s alone” in a manner other than that intended. Such practice is echoed by Daesh and al-Qaeda who distort the intended meanings of Quranic verses and the Sunnah, especially those pertaining to war and governance.

–           The hadiths refer to the shallowness of the Kharijites’ understanding of Islam and weak understanding of Allah’s religion. It is historically true that no companion was among the Kharijites. Similarly, they have had no scholar who has had prominent publications or was known for their scholarship. In an earlier study, we have shown that among 50 leading advocates of extremism, only three has religious education at the level of doctoral degrees. The rest had backgrounds in engineering, medicine and management disciplines, and security. They possessed no credible measure of religious learning that would enable them a correct understanding of the teachings of Islam. The early scholars said, “whoever increases their knowledge will decrease their denunciation”, and “whoever decreases their knowledge increases their denunciation of people”. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said to the Kharijites, “I have come to you as one of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) from among the Muhajirin and Ansar … among them it was revealed, and none of them is among you”. This shows the depths of their ignorance of Islam.

–           The hadiths described the Kharijites as those who engage in abundant worship. This attribute is not manifest in the case of the youth of Daesh who are notorious for their arrogance and bravado. This is supported by more than 60% of those who joined Daesh from Europe have drug-related criminal records theft. They did not have a deeply religious past according to a study conducted by the International Centre for the Study of Extremism and Political Violence at King’s University, Bristol. However, the phenomenon of abundant worship is manifest in other extremist movements like al-Qaeda and al-Nusrah, and others.

–           The hadiths describe the Kharijites as those who entered the depths of religion until they have left it. It is no secret that extremists appear extremely pious. The companion of Ali ibn Abi Talib, Jundab al-Azadi described them as great reciters of the Quran and demonstrating piety and material abstinence. This strict adherence attracted many to their rigid, somewhat repulsive, adherence to Islam. This is clear in the literature of the advocates of extremism and violence.

–           The hadiths describe the Kharijites as those who kill believers and call idol worshipers. Such was the Kharijites in the early days when they raided Muslim villages and invited Christian villagers claiming that they are allies and ahl al-Dhimah. This is the exact practice of the extremist jihadi movements in this day. Statistics show that in 2014 80% of the total victims of terrorist operations was in the Muslim countries Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria and that 78% of deaths in these countries were caused by terrorist acts. We never hear of their supposed plans such as attacking Israel which many jihadists would consider the most deserving of jihad.

–           The hadith spoke of the Kharijites leaving the Muslim community and their slander of Muslim leaders. Such is the focus of the rhetoric of jihadist extremist discourse which invites to leaving the ruling regimes of Muslim countries so that they may achieve their agendas.

–           The hadiths refer to the emergence of the Kharijites in a time of Muslim division. Such was the case between Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, and Muawiyah. Similarly, Daesh and other extreme groups have emerged at a time of the political disintegration of Arab societies as is the case in Iraq and Syria. Daesh emerged as a result of the revival of the Sunni-Shiite conflict after the fall of Baghdad in 2003. The Taliban appeared after the divergence of the Mujahideen movement in Afghanistan from power after defeating the Soviets …

–           The meanings of the hadith indicate that the Kharijites do not see value scholars and leaders if they disagree with them. They easily brand them as infidels. Such was the case when they branded Ali a disbeliever. They claimed they are more knowledgeable than him and Ibn Abbas and all the other companions. They did not hesitate to harm the companions. Such is also the case in today’s extremist groups which do not respect Muslim scholars and credible Islamic institution such as Azhar al-Shareef and others.

–           Some of the hadiths refer to the characteristic of the Kharijites of a great deal of differences between them. This manifested in the early groups which fought each other and is the case today with Daesh and al-Nusrah. It was also the case in the armed groups that emerged in Algeria in the 90s and is ongoing in the extremist groups in Somalia and elsewhere.

–           Expansion of bloodshed and the art of murder and retribution. They constantly seek innovative ways to kill. Such were the early Kharijites who terrorised the people. They killed the companion Abdullah bin Khabab and ripped open the belly of his pregnant wife.

These 16 attributes are shared with Daesh and other extremist groups that emerged at a time of Muslim division. They have increased the depths and impact of the turmoil. They sow discord and division among Muslims and kill the believers and destroy Muslim resources. This leads us to question, in whose favour do they operate?!!!

*Dr.Tarik Ladjal is Professor of History at Effat University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia