12/47. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 1065c — A Group Between Two Sides
The Khawarij and their attributes
Hadith About the Khawarij Between Two Groups
Sahih Muslim : 1065c
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 1065c
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الزَّهْرَانِيُّ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي نَضْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " تَكُونُ فِي أُمَّتِي فِرْقَتَانِ فَتَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْنِهِمَا مَارِقَةٌ يَلِي قَتْلَهُمْ أَوْلاَهُمْ بِالْحَقِّ " .
Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There would be two groups in my Ummah, and there would emerge another group (seceding itself from both of them), and the party nearer to the truth among the two would kill them (the group of the Khawarij).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 1065cIn-book reference : Book 12, Hadith 196USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 5, Hadith 2326
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 1065c
This hadith about the Khawarij between two groups says that two groups would exist in the Ummah, and another group would emerge from between them, seceding from both. The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said the party nearer to truth among the two would kill that seceding group. The supplied translation names the seceding group as the Khawarij in parentheses, but the main wording is about a group that breaks away. The lesson is about the danger of leaving sound guidance during dispute. It also teaches that not every side in a conflict is equal in nearness to truth, even if the situation is difficult.
What we learn from this hadith
- The hadith mentions two groups and a third group emerging from between them.
- The third group is described as seceding from both.
- The party nearer to truth would be the one to kill them.
- Division can become more dangerous when a group breaks away from guidance.
