Part 8
Author: Ahmed Shakib
Having discussed nineteen major sins committed by the Khawārij, we now continue with a detailed examination of three more destructive actions that reflect their deviation from Islamic principles.
20. Burning with Fire (Torturing or Executing People by Fire)
Inflicting punishment by fire is categorically forbidden in Islam. This grave prohibition is emphasized in multiple authentic narrations of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). He said:
«لَا يُعَذِّبُ بِالنَّارِ إِلَّا رَبُّ النَّارِ»
“None punishes with fire except the Lord of the Fire.”
(Bukhārī, Hadith 3016)
In another hadith, he instructed his military commanders:
«إذا وجدتموهم فاقتلوهم، ولا تحرقوهم، فإنّه لا یعذّب بالنار إلا الله»
“When you find them (the enemy), kill them, but do not burn them, for none punishes with fire except Allah.”
(Sahih Bukhārī, Book of Jihād and Expeditions)
These hadiths make it unequivocally clear that burning human beings—whether in battle, captivity, or punishment—is an act reserved solely for Allah the Almighty. Yet, in blatant defiance of this divine injunction, the Khawārij—driven by their extreme Takfīri ideology—have resorted to burning prisoners or opponents alive, or executing them through brutally innovative means. The most notorious contemporary example of this practice is found among the ranks of ISIS, whose members have replicated such barbaric actions.
21. Spreading Ignorance by Waging War Against Knowledge and Its Bearers
Islam elevates knowledge and its possessors to an esteemed rank. Scholars are regarded as the guiding lights of the Ummah, leading people to the path of divine guidance. Allah the Exalted states:
“يَرْفَعِ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مِنكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ دَرَجَاتٍ”
“Allah will raise those who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees.”
(Surah Al-Mujādilah, 58:11)
And elsewhere in the Qur’an:
قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
“Say, ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?'”
(Surah Az-Zumar, 39:9)
The Prophet (PBUH) further declared:
«من عادى لي وليا فقد آذنته بالحرب»
“Whosoever shows enmity to a wali (friend) of Mine, I then I have declared war against him.”
(Bukhārī, Hadith 6502)
The scholars are considered among the awliyā’ (friends) of Allah due to their dedication to preserving and conveying sacred knowledge. Thus, hostility toward them is tantamount to enmity against Allah Himself. However, the Khawārij, in stark contradiction to Qur’anic teachings and prophetic traditions, have declared the scholars of the Islamic world to be disbelievers. In their ideological delusion, they brand righteous scholars as kuffār, thereby waging an intellectual and physical war against the very guardians of Islamic knowledge.
22. Disobedience to Parents
Among the gravest of major sins in Islam is the act of disobeying one’s parents. The Qur’an explicitly commands not only worship of Allah alone but also benevolence toward parents. Allah the Most High says:
وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا
“Your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him, and that you treat your parents with excellence.”
(Surah Al-Isrā’, 17:23)
The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized this in his teachings, stating:
«ألا أنبئكم بأكبر الكبائر؟ الإشراك بالله، وعقوق الوالدين…»
“Shall I not inform you of the greatest of the major sins? Associating partners with Allah and disobedience to parents…”
(Bukhārī, Hadith 5976)
Despite the severity of this sin and the clear warnings against it, the Khawārij have shown flagrant disregard for the rights and status of their parents. Their actions reflect a broader pattern of rebellion not only against societal order but against the most fundamental tenets of Islamic morality.
Conclusion
While the Khawārij posture themselves as the ultimate enforcers of Islamic purity through Takfīr, their actions betray a deep-rooted contradiction. By committing some of the gravest sins condemned in the Qur’an and Sunnah—such as burning humans, attacking scholars, and dishonoring parents—they undermine the very faith they claim to uphold. Their legacy is not one of piety and reform, but of ignorance, brutality, and rebellion against the core values of Islam.