Ibn Taymiyyah, the Takfiri Kharijites and the Issue of Rebellion
By IslamAgainstExtremism, Editor
The Two Types of People That Fall Into Rebellion and Revolt and the Nature of Their Error
Shaykh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah continues:
For the people possessing religion are from the likes of these (i.e. those who revolted), however they err from two angles:
The first of them: That what they considered to be from the religion is not actually from the religion, such as [what is found in] the viewpoint of the Khawaarij and other than them from the people of desires. For they believe in an opinion that is an error and an innovation, and then they fight the people over it. Rather, they declare those who oppose them as disbelievers. Hence, they become errant in their opinion and also in fighting those who opppose them or making takfir of them and cursing them.
And this is the condition of the People of Desires in general, such as the Jahmiyyah who called the people to the rejection of the realities of the Beautiful Names of Allaah, and His Lofty Attributes. They say: Verily, He does not have speech except the speech that He created in others (besides Himself), and that He will not be seen, and other such things. And they also put the people to trial when some of the rulers inclined towards them (i.e. towards the Jahmiyyah), and so they would punish whoever would oppose them in their opinion, either with death or with imprisonment or with banishment [from the land] and prevention of sustenance [in their livelihood]. And the Jahmiyyah did this on more than one occasion (in history), and Allaah supports His believing Servants against them.
And the Rafidah are more evil than them when they gain authority, for they are loyal to the Kuffaar and aid them, and they show enmity towards all those from the Muslims who do not agree with their viewpoint. Similarly, those who have something within them of innovations, either the innovation of the Hulooliyyah... or the innovation of the Negators (of the Attributes) or those who exaggerate in affirmation (of the Attributes), or the innovation of the Qadariyyah, or that of Irjaa', or other than that. You will find him believing in corrupt beliefs, and then declare as a disbeliever or curse whoever opposed him. And the Khawaarij Renegades are the Imaams of all of these in making takfeer of Ahl us-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah and in fighting them.
The second angle: The one who fights based upon his belief in a viewpoint to which he calls, [such a one] is in opposition to the Sunnah and the Jamaa'ah, such as the People of the Camel, and Siffeen, and al-Harrah, and al-Jamaajim and others. However, he thinks that the desired rectification and benefit will be attained by way of this fighting, but this fighting attains no such thing. Rather, the corruption and harm becomes greater, much more than what it was initially. And then what the legislator (i.e. the Prophet) actually indicates and direct towards (of what entails true rectitude) finally becomes clear to them at the end of the affair.