“They kill Muslims and leave the idolaters alone.”
They declared ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān, and those loyal to them unbelievers. They killed ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, believing it lawful to do so. His killer, ‘Abd al-Rahmān ibn Muljam al-Murādī, was one of them. He and other Khawārij were diligent in worship, but they were ignorant and had departed from the Sunnah and the Muslim community.
They said: “People are either believers or unbelievers. A believer is someone who fulfils every obligation and abstains from everything forbidden. Whoever does not do so is an unbeliever who will remain in the Fire forever.”
They then applied this judgment to everyone who disagreed with them, saying: “‘Uthmān, ‘Alī, and others like them ruled by something other than what Allah revealed and committed injustice, thereby becoming unbelievers.”
Their doctrine is false, as shown by abundant evidence from the Quran and Sunnah. Allah, Glorified is He, commanded that the thief’s hand be cut off, not that he be killed. Had he been an unbeliever who had apostatized, he would have had to be put to death, for the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever changes his religion, put him to death.”
He also said:
“It is not lawful to shed a Muslim’s blood except in one of three cases: disbelief after embracing Islam, unlawful sexual intercourse after marriage, or taking a life for which he is put to death.”
Allah, Glorified is He, commanded that the man and woman guilty of unlawful sexual intercourse each receive one hundred lashes. Had they been unbelievers, He would have commanded that they be put to death. He likewise commanded that anyone who accuses a chaste woman of unlawful sexual intercourse receive eighty lashes. Had such a person been an unbeliever, He would have commanded that he be put to death.
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to flog the wine-drinker, not put him to death. Indeed, it is established from him in Sahīh al-Bukhārī and elsewhere:
“A man named ‘Abd Allāh Himār used to drink wine and would make the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) laugh. Whenever he was brought before the Prophet, he would flog him. On one occasion, when he was brought before him, a man cursed him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: