The Persistence of the Khawarij Innovation and the Ruling on One Who Possesses a Branch of It

The questioner:
Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, he says: Is the innovation of the Khawarij still present? And is one who is in

The Shaykh:
It is largely present, and largely this destruction and this bombing, and this is the work of the Khawarij; indeed, it is more severe than the work of the Khawarij. The Khawarij did not blow up houses, kill women and children, or kill those under treaty and those granted safe conduct. They would challenge opponents to single combat in battles and wars; they would challenge them. They did not betray, blow up houses and dwellings, or harm families. These people have gone beyond the Khawarij, may Allah protect us. May Allah protect us. Their origin is the Khawarij, but they have increased corruption on earth beyond them.

The questioner:
Then he says, may Allah preserve you: Is one who possesses a branch of the branches of the Khawarij, while persisting in it and not repenting from it, considered a Khariji?

The Shaykh:
Yes. The one who declares Muslims to be disbelievers, even if he does not carry a weapon, the one who holds the idea of the Khawarij and says it is correct, is a Khariji, even if he does not carry a weapon and even if he does not rebel against the one in authority. Yes.