Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

Journal of Imamiyyah Studies

The Convergence and Divergence of Imāmiyya and Kharijites in Social and Cultural Domains. 40 AH – 260 AH)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Seyed Akbar Mousavi Taniani 1
mohamadmahdi motahari 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of the History of Ahl al-Bayt’s Theology, Quran and Hadith Research Center, Qom, Iran
2 Level-4, Seminary of Qom, and researcher at Jafari Cultural Foundation
10.22034/jis.2025.442162.1940
Abstract
The Kharijites. Khawārij) were one of the most prominent and well-known Islamic sects that emerged in the first half of the first century AH against the backdrop of political and theological conflicts. Understanding the social and cultural history of the early Shia requires an examination of their relationships with rival groups. Therefore, studying the intellectual and social interactions and confrontations between the Shia and other active groups within the Islamic community is essential. The Kharijites, alongside the ʿUthmānīs loyal to Muʿāwiya and the Shiite followers of Amīr al-Muʾminīn. ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib), were among the three major politico-religious factions that played influential and active roles in the political, social, and theological developments of early Islam. Understanding the nature of their convergence or divergence is crucial for uncovering the lesser-known dimensions of Shiite history. The Kharijites, who separated from ʿAlī’s camp at the Battle of Ṣiffīn in opposition to his leadership and subsequently instigated the events at Nahrawān against his will, remained in continuous ideological and political conflict with rulers and intellectual groups. The Kharijite socio-intellectual movement, which fragmented into factions such as the Azāriqa, Najdāt, Ibāḍiyya, Ṣufriyya, and ʿAjārida, maintained a strong presence in various regions of the Islamic world. This study, based on historical and hadith-based sources, analyzes the socio-cultural interactions between these two groups during the period of the Imams following the martyrdom of Amīr al-Muʾminīn. The reason for not addressing Shiite-Kharijite relations during ʿAlī’s caliphate is the absence of significant cultural convergence or divergence at that time, as well as the complexity of their socio-political relations, which would require a separate study. The findings of this research indicate that, despite appearing to share a common opposition to the caliphal authority, the Ahl al-Bayt and Imami scholars engaged in a subtle cultural struggle against the Kharijites. It seems that the Kharijites’ extremist and militant disposition, coupled with the Shia’s limited inclination toward this politico-religious movement, led the Imams and their companions to avoid direct confrontation with them.
Keywords
Imamiyya
Kharijites
convergence
divergence
Age of the Imam’s Presence
Subjects
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