Ghaus Siwani, New Delhi

ISIS and Al-Qaeda are considered to be the most dangerous terrorist groups of our time. They slaughter men with no mercy and have utter disrespect for women; and all this in the name of Islam, a religion that forbids torture of even animals. Islam had arrived in the world to eradicate terrorism yet in its early days of a people used terrorism in the name of Islam and today’s most terrorist groups follow that practice.

The first such group was called ‘kharji' (outsiders). Since these people had left Islam because of their extremism thoughts, they were called outsiders.

They rebelled against the fourth caliph of Islam, Hazrat Ali.

The ideology of the foreigners was in conflict with Islam because Islam is a religion of moderation while the ideology of the foreigners was extremist and extremist. They used to draw swords and kill and destroy and consider it a part of Islam. They were so cruel that they used to rip pregnant women’s stomach to kill them and their unborn babies.

On the other hand, they strictly adhered to Islamic worship. They were prayers and fasting the utmost regularity. It’s said that due to frequent prostrations their foreheads had developed black spots. These people prayed and considered themselves superior to others and looked down on ordinary Muslims.

Though the ‘foreigners’ had existed in the time of the Prophet yet only with the advent of Hazrat Ali, (656-661 AD) they became powerful. During this time, the foreigners started a big fitna (conflict). They first turned against Amir Mu'awiyah and recognized Hazrat Ali as the rightful caliph and then started opposing Hazrat Ali.

It’s a mere coincidence that back then too their center was Iraq and Syria and it’s the stronghold of their followers even today. Groups like ISIS in Iraq and Syria are extremists. Back the majority of the ‘outsiders’ were from rural Iraq. During the battle of Safin, this group appeared and opposed the peace deal between Hazrat Ali and Mu'awiyah; they wanted war, anyway. A man named Shaath bin Rasbi was their chief. Other leaders of this group were Abdullah bin Al-Kawa, Atab bin Al-Awwar, Abdullah bin Wahab Rasbi, Urwah bin Jarir, Yazid bin Asim Muharibi, Harkoos bin Zuhair Bajli known as Dhu Al-Thadiya.

Hazrat Ali is not only a companion of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) but also his son-in-law. He was brought up and trained under the supervision of the Prophet. There are many hadiths about his virtues. However, this ‘outsider’ group did not consider him a Muslim enough and do did they think of Amir Mu'awiyah and took it on themselves to fight against both.

They however lost the battle of Nehruwan against Hazrat Ali. This particular group that fought the battle against Hazrat Ali comprised about 10,000 people. Despite defeating them, Hazrat Ali treated them well and 400 wounded persons. He then sent them back to their villages.

The battle of Nehruwan didn’t end with their elimination; they had survived and revolted now and then. With Basra as their base, they extended their tentacles to North Africa. Their relations with the lawful governments were never good. They conspired to assassinate Hazrat Ali and Amir Mu'awiyah. An outsider named Ibn Muljam martyred Hazrat Ali. Books of Islamic history are full of references to foreigners.

The followers of originals outsiders continue to exist even today. One of them is the Ibadi sect in Oman, Libya and some other countries. It’s a group of foreigners, but its real members are the groups that commit bloodshed in the name of Islam. They do not hesitate to slaughter humans at the drop of the hat. They look like devout Muslims, but they are a curse for Islam’s glory.