International Journal of Applied Engineering Research ISSN 0973-4562 Volume 11, Number 6 (2016) pp 4247-4251
© Research India Publications. http://www.ripublication.com
4247
Doctrine and Thought of Khawarij and the Implication
in the Present Context
Siti Zubaidah
UIN Medan, Sumatra.
Zulkifli M.
IAIN Kendari, Sumatra,
Abstract
Khawarij is one of classical doctrines in Islam. The beginning
of Khawarij was caused by the rejection of arbitration (peace)
between Ali bin Abi Thalib and Muawiyah bin Abu Sofyan in
a war and considering that all of the people who accepted the
arbitration were infidel, so that they were obligated to kill.
In the present context, Khawarij thoughts generally arouse
high enthusiasm from the followers and accentuate the cover
of life aspect, mainly from the lower-middle social class.
Their attitude is very antagonistic to the society. Everyone
who has the different argument with them should be regarded
as infidel so that they become exclusive in society. The world
is only seen in the “black-white” color without seeing the
socio-cultural context. Khawarij wants the Islam doctrines
maximally applied. Khawarij doctrines are simple, pure and
consistent.
Keywords: Doctrine, Khawarijas thoughts, present context.
Introduction
Islam is a universal religion that contains basic doctrines that
are applicable at all places and for all ages. Numbers of those
basic doctrines that are universal, absolute, fully correct,
eternal, unchanging and must not be changed. The detail
concerning the aim and implementation of basic doctrines
contained in the Qur’an are also being adjusted to situation
and condition of certain place and age.
Basic doctrine in Islam is monotheism (Oneness of God).
Islam ulema, either from the circle of mutakallimin or
theologist, or from the circle of philisopher and sufi, want to
purify the concept of Oneness of God as much as possible.
The first issue encountered by Islam people after the Phrophet
passed away is political issue. It is related to who will
substitute Him to become Madinah head of state. None of the
verses or Hadits contains any direction on that matter. The
local culture has large impact to the interpretation and the
implementation method of those universal principal doctrines.
Subsequently, it rised three individual interpretation of the
companions concerning head of state. The first opinion said
that a Caliph or head of state must be a Quraisy, and later, this
opinion is being adopted by Sunni class. Second opinion said
that acaliph must be from the Prophet’s descendant through
Fatimah and Ali ibn Abi Thalib, later on, this becomes
adopted by the Syi’ah. Third opinion issued by Khawarij that
considers any body of the Islam people, whether he is or he is
not an Arabic, may become a caliph if he has ability for that
purpose. Such political issue eventually has increased to
become belief issue or theology in Islam.
After raising streams and mazhabs in Islam doctrines, in
aqeedah or theology, there appear five streams, namely
Khawarij, Murji’ah, Mu’tazilah, Asy’ariyah, and Maturidiyah.
In jurisprudence (fiqih) or Islam law, there are appeared four
mazhabs, namely Hanafi, Maliki, Syafi’i, and Hanbali. In
politics, there are three streams: Sunni, Khawarij, and Syi’ah.
In terms of mysticism, there are appeared two streams: Sunni
and Syi’ah; while in philosophy there was appeared Al-
Ghazali, Al-Farabi, and Ibn Rusyd streams (Reference [7]).
In Madinah, the Prophet Muhammad is not only as a God
messenger but also as a head of state. After He has passes
away, His position as a state leader must be substituted by
other person, but His position as a Messenger is unable to be
substituted. As being acknowledged vin history, His first
successor was Abu Bakar as the head of state, he used the title
of Caliph, the Successor. After Abu Bakar has passed away,
he was replaced by Umar ibn al-Khattab as the second Caliph;
then continued by Usman ibn Affan, as the third caliph. In the
Usman governmental, any positical issues began to be raised.
Any historian described Usman as a weak person and not
capable to challenge ambition of his family, Bani Umayyah,to
become governments officers. He assigned them to be
governors in any regions subject to Islam power; the
governors assigned by the Caliph Umar then dropped by
Usman and replaced by his close family. This nepotism
politics made rise of any unfavorable reaction for Usman
position as a Caliph. There were unhappy feelings in regions;
as the reaction to this situation, the rebels moved from Eigypt
to Madinah, that caused the murdered of Caliph Usman.
After Usman has passed away, Ali ibn Abi Thalib became the
fourth caliph; but soon he obtained challenged from the
leaders of Mecca who were also wanted to become a caliph,
and he obtained support from Aisyah, the Phrophet’s wife.
Second challenge came from Mua’wiyah, governor of
Damascus, a nearest family member of the Caliph Usman.
Mua’wiyah also did not admit Ali as the Caliph, even he
accused Ali had made intervention in the murder of Caliph
Usman. Finally, there was war between those two groups in
Shiffin, Irak. In this event, Ali obtained victory, but on the
artifice of Amr ibn Ass, the Mua’wiyah right hand, who
requested for peace by up hold the Quran. The Ali group
urged Alito accept the offer, by holding arbitration (hakam).
This event has adversed the side of Ali and given advantage to