Walaa Baraa in the Hands of the Khawarij: An Explosive Misunderstanding
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
When al-walāʾ wal-barāʾ (loyalty and disavowal for the sake of Allah) is understood correctly, it becomes a source of love, unity, and protection of the dīn.
But when it falls into the hands of the Khawaarij, it becomes a weapon of division, hatred, and bloodshed.
They say:
“If you don’t hate the sinner like we do, you’re not a true believer.”
“If you don’t curse the ruler, you’re a hypocrite.”
“If you live in a Muslim country and don’t revolt, you’re with the tawāghīt.”
“If you don’t boycott the whole Ummah, your walāʾ is suspect.”
For the Khawaarij, walāʾ wal-barāʾ becomes a test of takfīr, not a principle of Tawḥīd.
But Allah says:
“Indeed, your ally is Allah, His Messenger, and those who believe…”
— Surah al-Māʾidah (5:55)
Not those who rage. Not those who rebel. Not those who divide.
The early Khawaarij declared ʿAlī, Muʿāwiyah, and other Sahābah as disbelievers, claiming that they had ruled by other than what Allah revealed, based on their misunderstanding of ruling and arbitration.
The Khawaarij made loyalty and disavowal based on their innovation, not the Qur’an and Sunnah. They declared believers disbelievers and made their blood lawful.
Ahlus-Sunnah understands:
Walāʾ is for Allah, His Messenger ﷺ, and the believers – not based on takfīr of major sinners or politics.
Barāʾ is from kufr and shirk – not from Muslims who err.
Loyalty and disavowal are acts of the heart, rooted in wisdom and textual evidence, not rage.
The Prophet ﷺ did not teach us to hate every sinner. He taught us to correct them, advise them, and pray for them.
O Muslim influenced by modern Khawaarij speech:
You are not more loyal to Allah than the Sahābah.
You are not more upright than the scholars of the Salaf.
Don’t turn a pure principle into a bloody slogan.
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