12/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1064f — Signs of a Misguided Group
The Khawarij and their attributes
Hadith About Khawarij Signs and Shallow Worship
Sahih Muslim : 1064f
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1064f
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، ح . وَحَدَّثَنِي حَرْمَلَةُ بْنُ يَحْيَى، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْفِهْرِيُّ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي يُونُسُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو سَلَمَةَ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، وَالضَّحَّاكُ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، أَنَّ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ، قَالَ بَيْنَا نَحْنُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهُوَ يَقْسِمُ قَسْمًا أَتَاهُ ذُو الْخُوَيْصِرَةِ وَهُوَ رَجُلٌ مِنْ بَنِي تَمِيمٍ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ اعْدِلْ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " وَيْلَكَ وَمَنْ يَعْدِلُ إِنْ لَمْ أَعْدِلْ قَدْ خِبْتَ وَخَسِرْتَ إِنْ لَمْ أَعْدِلْ " . فَقَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ رضى الله عنه يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ائْذَنْ لِي فِيهِ أَضْرِبْ عُنُقَهُ . قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " دَعْهُ فَإِنَّ لَهُ أَصْحَابًا يَحْقِرُ أَحَدُكُمْ صَلاَتَهُ مَعَ صَلاَتِهِمْ وَصِيَامَهُ مَعَ صِيَامِهِمْ يَقْرَءُونَ الْقُرْآنَ لاَ يُجَاوِزُ تَرَاقِيَهُمْ يَمْرُقُونَ مِنَ الإِسْلاَمِ كَمَا يَمْرُقُ السَّهْمُ مِنَ الرَّمِيَّةِ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى نَصْلِهِ فَلاَ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَىْءٌ ثُمَّ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى رِصَافِهِ فَلاَ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَىْءٌ ثُمَّ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى نَضِيِّهِ فَلاَ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَىْءٌ - وَهُوَ الْقِدْحُ - ثُمَّ يُنْظَرُ إِلَى قُذَذِهِ فَلاَ يُوجَدُ فِيهِ شَىْءٌ سَبَقَ الْفَرْثَ وَالدَّمَ . آيَتُهُمْ رَجُلٌ أَسْوَدُ إِحْدَى عَضُدَيْهِ مِثْلُ ثَدْىِ الْمَرْأَةِ أَوْ مِثْلُ الْبَضْعَةِ تَدَرْدَرُ يَخْرُجُونَ عَلَى حِينِ فُرْقَةٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ " . قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ فَأَشْهَدُ أَنِّي سَمِعْتُ هَذَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيَّ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبٍ - رضى الله عنه - قَاتَلَهُمْ وَأَنَا مَعَهُ فَأَمَرَ بِذَلِكَ الرَّجُلِ فَالْتُمِسَ فَوُجِدَ فَأُتِيَ بِهِ حَتَّى نَظَرْتُ إِلَيْهِ عَلَى نَعْتِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الَّذِي نَعَتَ .
Abu Sai'd al-Khudri reported: When we were in the company of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he was distributing the spoils of war, there came to him Dhul-Khuwasira, one of Banu Tamim. He said: Messenger of Allah, do justice. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Woe be upon thee! Who would do justice, if I do not do justice? You would be unsuccessful and incurring a loss, if I do not do justice. Upon this Umar b. Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: Messenger of Allah, permit me to strike off his neck. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Leave him, for he has friends (who would outwardly look to be so religious and pious) that everyone among you would consider his prayer insignificant as compared with their prayer, and his fast as compared with their fasts. They would recite the Qur'an but it would not go beyond their collar-bones. They would pass through (the teachings of Islam so hurriedly) just as the arrow passes through the prey. He would look at its Iron head, but would not find anything ticking) there. He would then see at the lowest end, but would not find anything sticking there. He would then see at its grip but would not find anything sticking to it. He would then see at its feathers and he would find nothing sticking to them (as the arrow would pass so quickly that nothing would stick to it) neither excrement nor blood. They would be recognised by the presence of a black man among them whose upper arms would be like a woman's breast, or like a piece of meat as it quivers, and they would come forth at the time when there is dissension among the people. Abu Sai'd said: I testify to the fact that I heard it from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and I testify to the fact that 'Ali b. Abu Talib fought against them and I was with him. He gave orders about that man who was sought for, and when he was brought in, and when I looked at him, he was exactly as the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) had described him.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1064fIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 193USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2323
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1064f
This hadith about Khawarij signs gives a long description from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri. Dhul-Khuwasira told the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم to do justice while he was distributing spoils. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم rejected the accusation and said that if he did not do justice, he would be unsuccessful and at loss. Umar asked to strike the man’s neck, but the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم told him to leave him. He then described people connected to him: their prayer and fasting would look greater than others, but their Qur’an would not go beyond their collarbones. Abu Sa'id later testified that he heard this directly and saw the described sign when Ali fought them.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم strongly denied the claim that he lacked justice.
- Impressive prayer and fasting can still be joined with misguidance.
- The Qur’an must reach beyond outward recitation into real guidance.
- Abu Sa'id carefully testified to what he heard and later saw.
