Discover the meaning of the term Khawarij (خوارج) in Islamic vocabulary.
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Updated on 11 April 2026 at 1:05 AM
📖 2 min readThose who take the tithe without the sultan’s leave.
Plural of kharij, as tawabi’ plural of tabi’; their account passed under baghi.
The singular kharija: a band gone forth, not to be called singly kharij, its plural heard not as khawarij; these are the Hourouriya, gone out against ’Ali, deeming lawful his blood and his companions’, of excessive rigor in religion.
Those who take the tithe without the sultan’s leave.
A sect among the Islamic sects, gone out against the imam ’Ali and contradicting his view. Those who rose against the caliphs and their like; so named for their going out against the community. Among the Hanafis: people with force, out against the imam by an interpretation they deem unbelief or disobedience justifying his war by their reckoning, deeming lawful our bloods and wealths, reviling our women, deeming the Prophet’s companions unbelievers; and: those out against the creed of the people of truth.