The purpose here is to make clear that these groups—the Rāfida and others who wage war against the Muslim community—are worse than the Khawārij, whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, explicitly commanded and encouraged fighting. This is agreed upon by the scholars of Islam who understand the matter’s true nature. Some hold that the Messenger’s wording, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, encompasses all these groups; others hold that they are included by implication and a fortiori inference, or because they are analogous to the Khawārij.

The hadith has been transmitted in various wordings. In the Sahīh collections of al-Bukhārī and Muslim—the wording here is al-Bukhārī’s—Alī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

“When I relate a hadith to you from the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, by Allah, I would rather fall from the sky than tell a lie about him. But when I speak to you about matters between you and me, war is deception. I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say:

‘Towards the end of time, people will emerge who are young in age and foolish in judgment. They will utter some of the finest words spoken by mankind, yet their faith will not pass beyond their throats. They will pass out of the religion as an arrow passes through its quarry. Wherever you encounter them, kill them, for whoever kills them will receive a reward on the Day of Resurrection.’”

In Sahīh Muslim:

“Zayd ibn Wahb reported that he was in the army accompanying Alī, may Allah be pleased with him, which marched against the Khawārij. Alī said:

‘O people, I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say:

“A people will emerge from my community who recite the Quran. Your recitation will be as nothing compared with theirs, your prayer as nothing compared with theirs, and your fasting as nothing compared with theirs. They recite the Quran, thinking that it counts in their favour, whereas it counts against them.