Karbala: A "Bloody" Consipracy and the Secrets Behind It

Glance at the traits and minds of the Khawarij

A glance at the hypocritical traits and the filthy minds of the Khawarij

These hypocrites had portrayed themselves as the most pious, most learned, and most loving and loyal from the warriors of Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu). The marks of lengthy sajdah would be clearly visible on their foreheads, their continuous recitation of the Qur'aan had earned them the title of "Qurra (the reciters)", and their fervor for fighting was unique. But as soon as the Ummah accepted the decision of Tahkeem (arbitration), which brought to a temporary halt to the years of in-fighting, their true colours came to the fore.

Without giving and thought to the love and honour they had for so many years portrayed to Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu), eight-thousand of these so-called 'Qurra (learned men of the Qur'aan)' together with their familiesand friends, broke away from his army, and refused to even lend an ear to his answers to the objections they had. Even the answers of Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (radhiyallahu anhu), who the entire Ummah has accepted as the "Ocean to the knowledge of the Qur'aan", his answers too could not break their stubborness, merely due to it being based, not on ignorance, but on hypocrisy.

The Khawarij refused to shift from their position unless and until Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) would accept his error in agreeing to the Tahkeem, and would openly repent from his act of "kufr" (Na'audhubillah), which he had, according to them, committed by allowing "man" to arbitrate, whereas according to their concocted understanding, "the only arbitrator is Allah Taala".

Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) obviously would never accept these absurd demands, and the Khawarij were never going to alter their stance.

After the Tahkeem (arbitration), ended without any unanimous result, Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) initially intended setting off in the direction towards Sham, attempting once more to force the people of Sham into pledging their allegiance. As his army moved away from Iraq, the Khawarij found and oppoetunity to vent their anger and went wild in their massacre of Muslim women and children left behind.

Among those brutally slaughtered by the Khawarij is the prominent Sahabi, Hadhrat Abdullah bin Khabbab (radhiyallahu anhu) together with his pregnant wife. On their way to execute this nobly Sahabi, they happen to pass by a swine, belonging to some dhimmi (a non-Muslim citizen). One of the men steuck it with his weapon, tearing its skin apart. A so-called "pious" man from the group rebuked him on gis action and sent him to the dhimmi, to pay the price of the animal, and ask for pardon. A while thereafter, one of the men picked up a date that fell from a nearby tree and began chewing it. His friends rebuked him and forced the date out, saying, "What? Without paying its price?" (This was the condition of their outward piety, as for the condition of their hearts and soul, the action that followed is more than sufficient to explain its filth and hypocrisy!).

Hey then brought Hadhrat Abdullah bin Khabbab (radhiyallahu anhu) forward, and mercilessly severed his neck from his body. As they approached his wife, she screamed out, 'Do you not fear Allah! I am a pregnany women". Her plea was of no avail, since these were not men in front of her, buy rather animals. They cut her belly open, exposing the foetus. (May Allah Taala deal with them as they deserve)

The filthy actions of these animals caused Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) to stall his plans of battle against the people of Sham, and instead turn his attention to the Khawarij, who had once upon a time, formed part of his elite force and close confidants. Due to having for so long enjoyed such a close relationship with these people, Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) felt it extremely difficult to suddenly lift his sword against them. Thus he sent Harb ibn Murrah Abdi to discuss the matter with them, but he too was mercilessly slaughtered. Hadhrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) was now forced to engage them in battle.