Refuting the Doubt Regarding the Non-Declaration of the Khawarij as Disbelievers

Question:
He asks: How do we respond to the doubt of one who says that the Khawarij considered the blood and wealth of Muslims to be lawful, yet the scholars did not declare them disbelievers?

Answer:
The issue is not one of declaring someone a disbeliever. Declaring someone a disbeliever has its own conditions and evidence. The Khawarij did not go out [in revolt] by associating partners with Allah, nor did they disbelieve in Allah, nor did they consider the prohibitions of Allah to be lawful. Rather, they had an extreme strictness in this matter. [They said], "You belittle your prayer compared to our prayer, and your worship compared to our worship," or as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said. They are people of obedience, but they opposed the rulers, and this is a defective methodology, because obedience to the rulers is .