Kharijites

The Kharijites (Arabic: خوارج) were a group that emerged from the followers of Ali ibn Abi Talib during the conflict between him and Muawiya ibn Abi Sufyan. The term derives from the Arabic verb 'kharaja', meaning 'to go out' or 'to depart', referring to their departure from recognized leadership. The group also applied other names to themselves, such as 'Shura' (those who consult) and 'Muhakkima' (those who judge).

The movement arose from a dispute over an arbitration decision (tahkim) that halted the Battle of Siffin. Part of Ali's army refused to accept that humans could decide religious matters, treating the phrase 'judgment belongs only to God' as an absolute principle. They subsequently left Ali and gathered at a place called Nahrawan, where fighting broke out between them and Ali's forces.

Doctrine and thought

The most prominent aspect of Kharijite thought was linking deed and faith: a person who committed a major sin, in their view, fell from belief. They therefore declared Ali, Uthman, and those who accepted the arbitration decision to be unbelievers (takfir). They also held that leadership need not be restricted to tribe or Quraysh, but depended on justice and competence—a position that differed from both Sunni and Shia doctrine.

Internal divisions

The Kharijites were not a single unified movement. They split into numerous sects, notable ones including the Azariqa (followers of Nafi' ibn al-Azraq), who were extreme, the Najdat, Sufri, and Ibadi schools. These sects differed in the degree of takfir they applied, their treatment of non-combatants, and their views on coexisting with the broader Muslim community.

Political history

Under the Umayyad caliphate and the early Abbasid period, Kharijite groups launched numerous revolts in Iraq, the Jazira, Persia, and North Africa. Most of these uprisings were militarily suppressed. However, in North Africa and Oman, Ibadi principles took root and established states, including the Imamate of Oman and the Rustamid Imamate centered at Tahert.