Kharijites facts for kids
The Kharijites (pronounced Kha-ri-jites) were an early group in Islam. They appeared during a big conflict in the Muslim world (656–661). They were first supporters of Ali, a Muslim leader. But they disagreed with him when he tried to make peace with his rival, Mu'awiya. The Kharijites believed that "judgment belongs to God alone." This meant only God could decide who was right or wrong. They thought leaders who sinned should be removed.
Contents
The Kharijites: A Strict Muslim Group
How the Kharijites Started
The Kharijites first appeared during the First Fitna, which was a civil war among Muslims. This happened from 656 to 661. They were originally followers of Ali, a very important Muslim leader.
Ali was fighting Mu'awiya at the Battle of Siffin in 657. To stop the fighting, Ali agreed to talk things over. The Kharijites did not like this. They believed that Ali should have kept fighting Mu'awiya. They thought Mu'awiya was wrong and should be defeated, not negotiated with.
Ali later fought against the Kharijites themselves. He defeated them at the Battle of Nahrawan in 658. But their rebellion did not stop. In 661, a Kharijite killed Ali to get revenge for the defeat at Nahrawan.
Later Kharijite Rebellions
After Mu'awiya became the leader of the Umayyad Caliphate in 661, his governors tried to control the Kharijites. But when another civil war, the Second Fitna (680–692), started, the Kharijites rebelled again.
Two main Kharijite groups, the Azariqa and Najdat, took control of large areas. They ruled parts of Persia and Arabia. However, they began to fight among themselves. This made them weaker. The Umayyads finally defeated them around 696–699.
Even after this, Kharijite rebellions continued. In the 740s, many large revolts happened across the caliphate. But all of them were eventually stopped.
The End of Militant Groups
Kharijite revolts continued into the Abbasid Caliphate period (750–1258). But the most aggressive Kharijite groups slowly disappeared. They were replaced by a less active group called the Ibadiyya.
The Ibadiyya still exist today in Oman and parts of North Africa. However, they say they are not linked to the early Kharijites. They see those early groups as extremists.
What Kharijites Believed
Who Can Be a Leader?
The Kharijites had strong beliefs about leadership. They thought any Muslim could be a caliph (a Muslim leader). It did not matter where they came from or what their family was. The only rule was that the leader had to be very good and fair.
They also believed it was the duty of Muslims to rebel against leaders who sinned. If a caliph did something wrong, he should be removed from power.
Strict Rules for Muslims
Most Kharijite groups believed that Muslims who committed a serious sin were no longer true believers. They called such people unbelievers. The most extreme Kharijites were very strict about this. They believed these "unbelievers" should be fought unless they changed their ways.
Many Kharijites were good speakers and poets. Their poems often talked about being very religious and about becoming a martyr (dying for their faith). In the 8th and 9th centuries, Kharijites also took part in religious discussions. They helped shape some ideas in mainstream Islamic theology.
How History Sees the Kharijites
Old and New Views
Most of what we know about the Kharijites comes from writers who lived long ago. These writers were not Kharijites themselves. Their writings were often against the group. Because we don't have the Kharijites' own stories, it's hard to know their true reasons.
Traditional Muslim historians and most Muslims today see the Kharijites as religious extremists. They are seen as people who left the main Muslim community. Many modern extremist groups are sometimes compared to the Kharijites because of their strong and sometimes violent ideas.
However, some modern historians see the Kharijites differently. They point out that Kharijites believed all Muslims were equal. They also had ideas that were a bit like early democracy. Some historians also think the Kharijite movement might have been about economics or nomadic Arab groups challenging the new state. They even question if the movement really started at Siffin.
Images for kids
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The Battle of Nahrawan took place near the Nahrawan Canal, which ran parallel to the east bank of the Tigris.
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A 1909 photograph of the Nahrawan Canal
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During the Second Fitna, the Najdat controlled Yamama in central Arabia, whereas the Azariqa controlled Fars and Kirman in southern Persia.
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The Sufri Midrarid dynasty of Sijilmasa (green) lasted for around 150 years.
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The Ibadi Rustamid dynasty ruled over much of modern-day Algeria for over a century.
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The tribal origins of the identified Kharijite leaders from the Umayyad period (661–750)
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See also
In Spanish: Jariyismo para niños
