The Significance of the Prophet's Description of the Khawarij as Being Abundant in Prayer and Worship
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His Eminence the Shaykh: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) described the Khawarij with specific or defining characteristics,Among them: such as their abundance in prayer and worship. What does this indicate? Is it for the sake of this world, or what?
His description of them as being engaged in worship, reciting the Qur'an, and so on, indicates that—seeking refuge in Allah—they are severe in their religion, but this religion has not reached their hearts. This is found in those who occupy themselves with the faults of people and call out their faults. You find their heart empty of connection to Allah (Mighty and Majestic); they only circle around the world asking, "What happened?" You find in their heart a burning jealousy that consumes them, but if you turn to them regarding turning back to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and connecting with Allah, you find their heart empty. This is the reason. For this reason, we forbid ourselves, above all else, from making our concern anything other than dealing with the conditions of people, which, if they are not correct, we are unable to turn to correctness.
And you find such people regard the truth as falsehood, or they regard the truth as truth, but it is submerged beneath a falsehood that is far greater than it.Meaning: They count the things that are criticized and leave the things that are praised, so they go astray and lead others astray. This is a serious matter. I do not need to give you examples of what happened in some Arab countries in terms of evil and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), because they did not do the matter in its proper way.
His description of them as being engaged in worship, reciting the Qur'an, and so on, indicates that—seeking refuge in Allah—they are severe in their religion, but this religion has not reached their hearts. This is found in those who occupy themselves with the faults of people and call out their faults. You find their heart empty of connection to Allah (Mighty and Majestic); they only circle around the world asking, "What happened?" You find in their heart a burning jealousy that consumes them, but if you turn to them regarding turning back to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and connecting with Allah, you find their heart empty. This is the reason. For this reason, we forbid ourselves, above all else, from making our concern anything other than dealing with the conditions of people, which, if they are not correct, we are unable to turn to correctness.
And you find such people regard the truth as falsehood, or they regard the truth as truth, but it is submerged beneath a falsehood that is far greater than it.Meaning: They count the things that are criticized and leave the things that are praised, so they go astray and lead others astray. This is a serious matter. I do not need to give you examples of what happened in some Arab countries in terms of evil and fitnah (trial, discord or temptation), because they did not do the matter in its proper way.