Part 10
Ahmed Shakib
Among the many wrongs attributed to the Khawarij are certain practices they turned into routine behavior. These sins became almost a hallmark of their sect, and it is vital for the younger generation to recognize them clearly, so they may guard themselves against falling into the same trial. Two of the most destructive among them are outlined below.
26. Seizing Muslim Lands and Cities
Few crimes are as damaging as forcibly seizing the lands and towns of fellow Muslims. Such actions tear apart the security of communities, undermine their wealth and order, and dishonor their people. The Qur’an warns:
“Indeed, the blame is only upon those who wrong people and tyrannize upon the earth without right. For them there will be a painful punishment.” (Ash-Shuraa: 42)
In truth, this form of domination is nothing less than rebellious oppression, something the Shariah firmly forbids. From their very emergence, the Khawarij raised arms against Islamic authority. They rebelled against Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), the rightful Caliph of the time. They marched upon Muslim territories, took control of cities, and shed the blood of believers without hesitation.
Their aggression reached a peak at the Battle of Nahrawan, where they killed not only soldiers but also women, children, and ordinary civilians. These episodes reveal their utter hostility to the peace, order, and very structure of the Islamic state.
27. Hostility Toward the Holy Sanctuaries and the Gulf States
Even more alarming was their antagonism toward the Holy Sanctuaries. Makkah and Madinah stand as the heart of Islam, its holiest cities, and to direct hostility against them is to strike at the very core of the faith. To oppose them is to show contempt for the Qiblah and for the sacred symbols that Allah Himself has exalted. The Qur’an affirms:
“And whoever honors the symbols of Allah, indeed it is from the piety of hearts.” (al-Hajj: 32)
Respect for these sacred signs is thus a duty upon every believer, while dishonoring them is nothing short of sacrilege. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) warned:
“Whoever intends harm for the people of Madinah, Allah will cause him to dissolve as salt dissolves in water.” (Muslim)
The guardianship of the Two Holy Sanctuaries is therefore the collective responsibility of the Muslim Ummah, and hostility against them has always been a mark of the Khawarij.
In modern times, groups that parade under the banner of Islam but embrace the creed of the Khawarij, such as ISIS and similar movements, have threatened Makkah and Madinah, carried out attacks on mosques, and declared scholars and rulers of Muslim lands to be unbelievers.
Historically, the Khawarij never showed reverence for the sanctity of Makkah al-Mukarramah or Madinah al-Munawwarah. Their rigid ideology reduced faith to a single measure of conformity: anyone who disagreed with them was deemed a disbeliever, regardless of lineage, status, or devotion.
