Part 1
Author: Ahmed Shakib
Islam is a religion of peace, mercy, moderation, knowledge, and reform. It not only provides guidance in matters of worship and spirituality but also establishes the foundation for social order, justice, and harmony.
Regrettably, throughout history, whenever the Islamic Ummah has made progress towards unity and stability, certain groups have emerged to undermine that progress by kindling the fires of fitnah, bloodshed, division, and extremism. Among these, the most dangerous, radical, and destructive in the name of religion are the Khawarij—individuals who outwardly profess piety and religiosity, yet are themselves mired in major sins against which the Qur’an and Sunnah deliver severe warnings.
The Khawarij are a fitnah that presents itself under the guise of worship, honor, and reform. However, their true nature is marred by corruption, murder, betrayal, and ideologies that are contrary to Islam. They are self-proclaimed champions of takfir (declaring fellow Muslims as disbelievers), while they themselves are deeply ensnared in transgressions that even the enemies of Islam would find abhorrent.
The most concerning aspect of this group is their ability to mislead ordinary Muslims—particularly the youth—with their ostensible religiosity, impassioned rhetoric, and dogmatic positions. They persuade them that they alone uphold the truth while everyone else has deviated. However, in reality, the Khawarij have strayed from the moderation, mercy, and rational essence of Islam, waging a battle against the very core of religion itself.
This series seeks to highlight—with clear and authoritative evidence—the major sins that not only contradict the teachings of Islamic Sharia but also stand in opposition to reason and human nature. The Khawarij, far from being exemplars of righteousness, are steeped in these very grave sins.
The major sins for which the Khawarij are culpable are as follows:
1. Killing Innocent People
Islam regards human life as sacred, even if the individual is a non-believer. Allah the Almighty states:
«من قتل نفساً بغير نفس أو فساد في الأرض فكأنما قتل الناس جميعاً» (المائدة: 32)
“Whoever kills a soul unless for a soul or for corruption [done] in the land, it is as if he had slain mankind entirely.” (Al-Ma’idah 5:32)
Likewise, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
«لزوال الدنيا أهون عند الله من قتل رجل مسلم »(ترمذی)
“The extinction of the entire world is less significant before Allah than the unlawful killing of a single Muslim.” (Tirmidhi)
Despite these explicit prohibitions, the Khawarij perpetrate the unlawful killing of innocent Muslims, scholars, women, children, and ordinary civilians. Their assaults, bombings, and targeted executions demonstrate their utter disregard for the sanctity of Muslim lives. Under the guise of religion, they pursue their nefarious objectives, even resorting to attacking mosques, madrasas, and institutions of Islamic learning.
