ISIS and the Kharijites

• published: 16 Mar 2015
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Many Islamic authorities, including Saudi Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al ash-Sheikh, and Abu Khadeejah (www.salafisounds.com) consider the Islamic State to be an extension of the Kharijites, a group of the first Muslims who rebelled against authority during the early Islamic centuries. IS an extension of the Kharijites who "believed that killing Muslims was not a crime, and we do not consider either of them Muslims." Even al-Qaeda, which was, until recently, the most dangerous Salafist jihadist movement in the world, renounced IS for being Kharijites Salafists such as the grand mufti of Saudi Arabia — who shares IS' religious principles, but not political views — call IS members Kharijites. Notably, these Salafists refused to pledge allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, who surprised the other Salafist movements by declaring himself the caliph of all Muslims. Salafist movements never expressed a serious disagreement with IS until Baghdadi's announcement of the caliphate last June. Saudi Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al ash-Sheikh issued a statement in August 2014 calling IS an extension of the Kharijites who "believed that killing Muslims was not a crime, and we do not consider either of them Muslims." Even al-Qaeda, which was, until recently, the most dangerous Salafist jihadist movement in the world, renounced IS for being Kharijites. Jabhat al-Nusra declared in December 2014 that it was waging a war of elimination against what it called “Kharijites,” indicating IS. In a voice recording, Jabhat al-Nusra’s spiritual leader, Sami al-Aridi, said, “The swords that God ordered us to use are many. One of these swords is the one pointed at Kharijites. This group [IS] has provided solid proof that it is Kharijite. Thus, killing them is a religious duty and there is no doubt about it. Whoever underestimates killing them, is underestimating the blood of Sunnis.” Khārijite, Arabic Khawārij, the earliest Islāmic sect, which traces its beginning to a religio-political controversy over the Caliphate. The Khārijites were known for their puritanism and fanaticism. Any Muslim who committed a major sin was considered an apostate. Luxury, music, games, and concubinage without the consent of wives were forbidden. Intermarriage and relations with other Muslims were strongly discouraged. The doctrine of justification by faith without works was rejected, and literal interpretation of the Qurʾān was insisted upon. Within the Khārijite movement the Azāriqah of Basra were the most extreme subsect, separating themselves from the Muslim community and declaring death to all sinners and their families. A small number of these pietists withdrew (kharajū) to the village of Ḥarūrāʾ under the leadership of Ibn Wahb and, when arbitration proved disastrous to ʿAlī, were joined near Nahrawān by a larger group. These Khārijites, as they came to be known, were opposed equally to ʿAlī’s claims and to those of Muʿāwiyah. Repudiating not only the existing caliphal candidates but all Muslims who did not accept their views, the Khārijites engaged in campaigns of harassment and terror. In the Battle of Nahrawān (July 658) Ibn Wahb and most of his followers were killed by ʿAlī, but the Khārijite movement persisted in a series of uprisings that plagued both ʿAlī (whom they assassinated) and Muʿāwiyah (who succeeded ʿAlī as caliph). In the period of civil war (fitnah) following the death of the caliph Yazīd I (683), the Khārijites were the source of serious disruptions within the Umayyad domain and in Arabia. Subdued through the intensive campaigning of al-Ḥajjāj, the Khārijites did not stir again until the collapse of the Umayyads, and then their two major rebellions, in Iraq and Arabia, ended in defeat.