Muslim also relates through some of his chains of transmission from Abū Sa‘īd:

“The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mentioned people who would arise within his community at a time of division among the people, their distinguishing mark being shaved heads. He then said, ‘They are the worst of creation—or among the worst of creation. They will be killed by whichever of the two factions is closer to the truth.’”

Abū Sa‘īd said, “You were the ones who killed them, people of Iraq.” In another wording recorded by Muslim:

“Whichever of the two factions is nearer to the truth will kill them.”

Alongside this hadith is the report established in the Sahīh collection from Abū Bakrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said concerning al-Hasan ibn ‘Alī:

“This son of mine is a leader, and through him Allah will reconcile two great factions of believers.”

He thus made clear that both factions were believers, and that their reconciliation, as brought about by al-Hasan, was more beloved to Allah, Glorified is He, and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) than their fighting one another. He also made clear that, although their fighting had not been commanded, ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib and his companions were closer to the truth than Mu‘āwiyah and his companions, and that fighting the Khawārij was something he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had commanded. For this reason, the Companions and the imams agreed on fighting them.

These Khawārij have several names. They are called the “Harūriyyah” because they rebelled at a place called Harūrā’. They are also called the people of Nahrawān because ‘Alī fought them there. Their branches include the “Ibādiyyah,” the followers of ‘Abd Allāh ibn Ibād; the “Azāriqah,” the followers of Nāfi‘ ibn al-Azraq; and the “Najadāt,” the followers of Najdah al-Harūrī.

They were the first to declare those who face the qiblah in prayer unbelievers on account of sins—indeed, on account of what they themselves regarded as sins. On that basis, they deemed it lawful to shed their blood. Thus they were just as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) described them: