Are Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhab and his followers from the Khawaarij?
As for the Khawaarij; they are the ones who revolted against the authority of ‘Alee (رضي الله عنه) and before that they killed ‘Uthmaan (رضي الله عنه). They declared ‘Uthmaan, ‘Alee, Talhah, Az-Zubair, Mu’awiyyah and the group of ‘Alee and Mu’awiyyah to be disbelievers whose blood was lawful!
The origin of their methodology is extremism (ghuluw), which Allah has forbidden and where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) warned us against. They declared anyone who committed a major sin to be disbeliever, and some of them declared others to be disbeliever due to small sins. They didn’t declare ‘Alee and his companions due to a sin, but due to (the permission ‘Alee gave for) coming to a judgment (arbitrage) by way of ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas and Abee Musa al-Ash’aree. They (the Khawaarij) said about this: “Judgment is for Allah Alone!”
They use incorrect general evidences as proof for declaring others to be disbelievers due to their sins. Like the Statements of Allah (سبحانه):
{And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.} [Surah al-Jinn 72:23]
{And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment.} [Surah an-Nisaa’ 4:14]
{And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.} [Surah an-Nisaa’ 4:93]
And other such similar verses.
And Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah agreed that those who commit major sins, will not remain in the Hellfire for eternity when they die upon tawheed. And that the one amongst them who will enter the Hellfire due to his sin will come out, like has been mentioned in many narrations of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). Moreover, if the adulterer, the consumer of alcohol, the slanderer, the thief and such would be disbelievers and apostates; then their judgement in this world would be the death penalty as Allah has determined for apostates. However, since Allah has determined (the punishment of) whiplashes for the adulterer (who is not married), the consumer of alcohol, the slanderer, and the removal of the hand of the thief; this indicates that they do not become disbelievers due to these sins like the Khawaarij claim!
The origin of their mathhab is therefore to declare sinners as disbelievers and to declare the Companions of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to be disbelievers, whose blood was made permissible! And they did this in order to come closer to Allah!
When this has become clear, then the deviation of many people in this time becomes clear, in their claim that Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (رحمه الله) and his followers are Khawaarij. Although their mathhab contradicts the mathhab of the Khawaarij! Because they show loyalty to the companions of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم), recognize their virtues, oblige (people) to follow them, make du’aa for them, and declare anyone who slanders or criticizes them to be deviant! (Furthermore) they declare no one to be disbeliever due to a sin and declare no one to be outside (the fold of) Islam due to a sin.
However, the one who commits or approves of Shirk; this one they declare to be disbeliever. And the mushrik is a disbeliever, by way of (based upon) the Book, the Sunnah and the agreement of the scholars. So how can they be compared with them (the Khawaarij)?!!
The one who says this is a stubborn person who wishes to scare the people away from this da’wah, or an ignorant person who knows nothing of the mathhab of the Khawaarij and says this out of blindness.
Shaykh 'Abdullaah bin 'Abdur-Rahmaan Abaa Butayn, may Allah have mercy upon him
Translated by Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: Ad-Durar as-Saniyyah, part 1, pp. 361-362. Click here, here and here, to view a scan of the pages.
The origin of their methodology is extremism (ghuluw), which Allah has forbidden and where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) warned us against. They declared anyone who committed a major sin to be disbeliever, and some of them declared others to be disbeliever due to small sins. They didn’t declare ‘Alee and his companions due to a sin, but due to (the permission ‘Alee gave for) coming to a judgment (arbitrage) by way of ‘Amr bin al-‘Aas and Abee Musa al-Ash’aree. They (the Khawaarij) said about this: “Judgment is for Allah Alone!”
They use incorrect general evidences as proof for declaring others to be disbelievers due to their sins. Like the Statements of Allah (سبحانه):
{And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, then verily, for him is the Fire of Hell, he shall dwell therein forever.} [Surah al-Jinn 72:23]
{And whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم), and transgresses His limits, He will cast him into the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment.} [Surah an-Nisaa’ 4:14]
{And whoever kills a believer intentionally, his recompense is Hell to abide therein, and the Wrath and the Curse of Allah are upon him, and a great punishment is prepared for him.} [Surah an-Nisaa’ 4:93]
And other such similar verses.
And Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah agreed that those who commit major sins, will not remain in the Hellfire for eternity when they die upon tawheed. And that the one amongst them who will enter the Hellfire due to his sin will come out, like has been mentioned in many narrations of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). Moreover, if the adulterer, the consumer of alcohol, the slanderer, the thief and such would be disbelievers and apostates; then their judgement in this world would be the death penalty as Allah has determined for apostates. However, since Allah has determined (the punishment of) whiplashes for the adulterer (who is not married), the consumer of alcohol, the slanderer, and the removal of the hand of the thief; this indicates that they do not become disbelievers due to these sins like the Khawaarij claim!
The origin of their mathhab is therefore to declare sinners as disbelievers and to declare the Companions of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to be disbelievers, whose blood was made permissible! And they did this in order to come closer to Allah!
When this has become clear, then the deviation of many people in this time becomes clear, in their claim that Shaykh Muhammad bin ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (رحمه الله) and his followers are Khawaarij. Although their mathhab contradicts the mathhab of the Khawaarij! Because they show loyalty to the companions of the Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم), recognize their virtues, oblige (people) to follow them, make du’aa for them, and declare anyone who slanders or criticizes them to be deviant! (Furthermore) they declare no one to be disbeliever due to a sin and declare no one to be outside (the fold of) Islam due to a sin.
However, the one who commits or approves of Shirk; this one they declare to be disbeliever. And the mushrik is a disbeliever, by way of (based upon) the Book, the Sunnah and the agreement of the scholars. So how can they be compared with them (the Khawaarij)?!!
The one who says this is a stubborn person who wishes to scare the people away from this da’wah, or an ignorant person who knows nothing of the mathhab of the Khawaarij and says this out of blindness.
Shaykh 'Abdullaah bin 'Abdur-Rahmaan Abaa Butayn, may Allah have mercy upon him
Translated by Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: Ad-Durar as-Saniyyah, part 1, pp. 361-362. Click here, here and here, to view a scan of the pages.
