12/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1065a — Division and a Deviant Sect
The Khawarij and their attributes
Hadith About a Sect During Muslim Division
Sahih Muslim : 1065a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1065a
وَحَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَكَرَ قَوْمًا يَكُونُونَ فِي أُمَّتِهِ يَخْرُجُونَ فِي فُرْقَةٍ مِنَ النَّاسِ سِيمَاهُمُ التَّحَالُقُ قَالَ " هُمْ شَرُّ الْخَلْقِ - أَوْ مِنْ أَشَرِّ الْخَلْقِ - يَقْتُلُهُمْ أَدْنَى الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ إِلَى الْحَقِّ " . قَالَ فَضَرَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لَهُمْ مَثَلاً أَوْ قَالَ قَوْلاً " الرَّجُلُ يَرْمِي الرَّمِيَّةَ - أَوْ قَالَ الْغَرَضَ - فَيَنْظُرُ فِي النَّصْلِ فَلاَ يَرَى بَصِيرَةً وَيَنْظُرُ فِي النَّضِيِّ فَلاَ يَرَى بَصِيرَةً وَيَنْظُرُ فِي الْفُوقِ فَلاَ يَرَى بَصِيرَةً " . قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو سَعِيدٍ وَأَنْتُمْ قَتَلْتُمُوهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ الْعِرَاقِ .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made a mention of a sect that would be among his Ummah which would emerge out of the dissension of the people. Their distinctive mark would be shaven heads. They would be the worst creatures or the worst of the creatures. The group who would be nearer to the truth out of the two would kill them. The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) gave an example (to give their description) or he said: A man throws an arrow at the prey (or he said at the target), and sees at its iron head, but finds no sign (of blood there), or he sees at the lowest end, but would not see or find any sign (of blood there). He would then see into the grip but would not find (anything) sticking to it. Abu Sai'd then said: People of Iraq. it is you who have killed them.
[1] -Meaning, shaving their heads, see no. 2472.Reference : Sahih Muslim 1065aIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 194USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2324
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1065a
This hadith about a sect during Muslim division reports that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم mentioned a group that would appear in his Ummah during a time of dissension. Their distinctive mark would be shaven heads. The wording says they would be the worst creatures, or among the worst of creatures. The group nearer to the truth out of the two would kill them. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also used the image of an arrow passing through prey, where the archer checks parts of the arrow and finds no trace. Abu Sa'id then addressed the people of Iraq, saying they had killed them. The hadith focuses on division, signs, and the danger of leaving true guidance.
What we learn from this hadith
- The group is described as emerging during a time of division.
- Their sign in this report is shaven heads.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم used the arrow image to describe how they would pass through.
- Abu Sa'id connected the report to people who were later killed.
