Part 4
By Ghiyath al-Din Ghori
The ignorance of the Khawarij lay in their selective approach to the Shariah. They embraced certain aspects while rejecting others, and their understanding of the sacred texts was shallow and fragmented. Lacking true insight into jurisprudence, they failed to translate divine guidance into the realities of life. Their ideology, beliefs, and conduct have long embodied disorder within Muslim society. Throughout history, their deviant ways have fueled division among Muslims and led them to treat the blood of believers as if it held no worth.
As foretold by the Leader of Humanity (PBUH), the Khawarij have appeared time and again throughout Islamic history, born out of internal discord within the Ummah. Each time they emerge, they are eventually destroyed, leaving behind two dark and bitter legacies: the excommunication of fellow Muslims and the killing of the righteous and ordinary followers of Ahl al-Sunnah wal Jama’ah. Though repeatedly uprooted by the Mujahideen, this malignant wound reopens whenever new conflicts arise.
Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyya (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: “The Prophet of Islam (PBUH) informed us in several hadiths that the Khawarij will continue to appear until the time of the Dajjal, and the Muslims are agreed that they were not confined to the army that fought against Ali (RA).” During the medieval era, their military strength waned, yet their extremist ideas continued to resurface, threatening the peace and cohesion of the Ummah.
In the modern age, the weakness of Islamic states and the pressures of colonialism paved the way for new extremist movements to arise, among them the ISIS-Khawarij. The enemies of Islam exploited these very groups to strike one of the gravest blows to the essence of Islam in recent history. This misguided faction spared no effort in fulfilling the ambitions of those who had sworn hostility toward Muslims, serving, in effect, the destructive aims of Zionism.
From the earliest days of Islam to the present, these corrupt sects have claimed to possess greater knowledge than the noble Companions themselves. Even today, they present themselves as more enlightened and rightly guided than the senior scholars, the spiritual teachers, and the leaders of jihad, though not a single true scholar or devout figure stands with them.
Throughout history, this deviant movement has repeatedly declared false caliphates to sow division and tarnish the image of Islam. In our own decade, we have witnessed similar claims from the Khawarij of our time.
It is therefore vital to reflect on and expose the damage this malignant phenomenon, the ISIS Khawarij, has inflicted upon the Islamic Ummah in the contemporary era. In the following parts, Allah willing, we will examine in detail how these modern-day Khawarij continue to spread division and undermine the security and unity of Muslims.
