Are the Khawarij disbelievers?

Question:
May Allah reward you. Your Eminence, father, the questioner asks: Are the Khawarij disbelievers or innovators? And regarding the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) , is the intended meaning major shirk (associating partners with Allah) or minor shirk?

Answer:
The majority hold that they are not disbelievers, but rather that the intended meaning is minor shirk; they are open sinners and are not declared disbelievers. When the Commander of the Faithful, 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), was asked about them, even though he was fighting them, and it was said to him, "Are they disbelievers?" he said, "No, they fled from disbelief." Their action was due to ignorance and erroneous independent legal reasoning; they did not intend this matter. They are people of misguidance, not disbelievers who have exited the religion. Among the scholars, some declared them disbelievers, such as al-Bukhari and others, who ruled on their disbelief and their exit from the religion. Yes, but the majority hold the first opinion, and that their disbelief is minor shirk. Yes.