KHAWARIJ THE EARLIEST SECT IN ISLAM? A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF ITS HISTORY AND THOUGHT

Abstract

Khawarij as one of the earliest sects in Islam, still has its adherents to
this day. Even so, the study of this sect in the malay-language
literature is still too little explored. The existing malay-language
literature on Khawarij was found to use only secondary sources and
referred to the study of non-Khawarij scholars, which raises a clear
question of authenticity. This study uses library research methods and
inductive content analysis. This study seeks to highlight a brief history
of the emergence and development of the Khawarij sect, and its
central ideas, by referring to the original sources of the adherents of
this sect. This study will discuss the confusion that arises as a result of
the branding of Khawarijism, and its impact on the intrinsic
understanding of this Khawarij sect.