Written by: Asad Ghorzang
The Kharijites have a lengthy and extremist history in Islam. Due to their rigid ideologies, they caused severe damage to the unity and consensus of Muslims. Throughout history, they wielded their swords against Muslims based on their misguided beliefs, leading to not only significant loss of life but also serious economic and social challenges for the Muslim community.
During the early centuries of Islam, particularly after the Umayyad Caliphate, the Kharijites staged uprisings against the Abbasid Caliphate in various regions. During the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid, the Kharijites rebelled in areas such as Khorasan, Iraq, and parts of Persia. They generally refused to recognize the authority of central governments and justified their rebellions under the guise of justice and religious purity. The Kharijite revolts were often quelled through military campaigns, as they posed a serious threat to the caliphate. .
In the year 178 AH, the Kharijites, under the leadership of Walid ibn Tarif, rebelled in the Arabian Peninsula against Harun al-Rashid. This rebellion was so powerful and dangerous that even after successive battles, the Kharijites inflicted severe defeats on the Muslim armies.
Subsequently, Harun al-Rashid appointed Ma’n ibn Zaida al-Shaybani, also known as Yazid, to suppress the Kharijites. Yazid was a skilled and experienced commander in the Islamic army. Both Yazid and the Kharijite leader, Walid, belonged to the same tribe. For this reason, Yazid initially avoided engaging in direct combat and attempted to negotiate peace with him.
This approach by Yazid led the army’s advisors and officers to complain to Harun al-Rashid, accusing Yazid of deliberately delaying the confrontation. Harun al-Rashid, in a stern letter, ordered Yazid to immediately eliminate Walid and put an end to the rebellion.
Yazid dispatched a missive to Walid, inquiring, “What good arises from slaying the servants of Allah? Let us address this matter man to man.” Upon receiving Yazid’s message, Walid promptly joined the battlefield.
The two leaders engaged in combat for hours while their armies observed. Ultimately, Walid met his demise, and his army abandoned the rebellion. Thus, the caliphate of Harun al-Rashid was safeguarded from their threat.
