following it. Some of his Sunnah may be thought to conflict with the apparent meaning of the Quran or to add to it, such as the Sunnah specifying the minimum value of stolen property subject to punishment and requiring the stoning of the muhsan adulterer—one possessing the requisite marital status. The Companions, those who followed them in righteousness, and all other groups of Muslims likewise hold that this Sunnah must be followed, except those who disputed this among the renegade Khawārij, concerning whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Any one of you would consider his prayer insignificant compared with theirs, his fasting compared with theirs, and his recitation compared with theirs. They recite the Quran, but it does not pass beyond their throats. They pass out of Islam as an arrow passes through its quarry. Wherever you encounter them, kill them, for whoever fights them will have a reward with Allah on the Day of Resurrection for killing them.”

Numerous authentic hadiths have been transmitted from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, describing and condemning them and commanding that they be fought.

Ahmad ibn Hanbal said, “The hadith concerning the Khawārij has been authentically transmitted through ten routes.” Muslim transmitted the hadith concerning them in his Sahīh through ten routes, seemingly the very ones to which Ahmad ibn Hanbal referred, since Muslim learned from Ahmad. Al-Bukhārī also transmitted the hadith concerning them through several routes.

The first of these people said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, “Muhammad, be just, for you have not been just!” One who considers it possible for him to wrong him and thus fail to act justly is like one who holds obedience to him obligatory in the very matter in which he has done wrong. Yet they hold that what he conveyed from Allah must be followed. This stems from their ignorance and inconsistency. Hence the Prophet said