Abu Hanifah vs the Khawarij — A Masterclass in Refuting Extremist Takfir
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- May 23
- 2 min read
Abu Hanifah vs the Khawarij — A Masterclass in Refuting Extremist Takfir
When the Khawārij tried to declare takfīr on Imām Abū Ḥanīfah رحمه الله, he didn’t just refute them — he exposed their ignorance using their own flawed methodology.
They told him:
“Repent, O shaykh, from disbelief!”
His response?
“I repent to Allah from all disbelief.”
(They took that as submission.)
But when they tried to twist his words to trap him, Abū Ḥanīfah turned the tables:
“Did you say this upon assumption or upon knowledge?”
The leader replied: “Upon assumption.”
Then he cited the Qur’ān:
“O you who believe, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin.”
(Sūrah al-Ḥujurāt, 49:12)
That was the knockout.
He ended by saying:
“And this is a sin from you, and every sin is disbelief according to you. So you must repent from disbelief.”
This is the way of the scholars — not swords, not slurs, not shouting.
They dismantle falsehood with proof and precision.
The Khawārij love to accuse, label, and excommunicate — often on mere assumption, emotion, or ignorance.
But the Salafi stands firm on:
— Qur’ān,
— Sunnah,
— The understanding of the Salaf,
— And intellectual integrity.
O Muslim, beware the loud voices of misguidance. Follow the clarity of the Salaf.
Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمه الله) Confounds a Dumb Khārijite Using His Own Bidʿah
When the Khārijites appeared in Kūfah, they took Abū Ḥanīfah and said, "Repent O shaykh from disbelief." He said to them, "I repent to Allāh from all disbelief." So the Khārijites left him alone. Then when he turned away it was said to them, "He repented from disbelief, but he meant by it what you are upon, so bring him back." So their leader said to him, "O shaykh! You repented from disbelief, and did you mean (by 'disbelief') what we are upon?" Abū Ḥanīfah said to him, "Did you say this upon assumption or upon knowledge?" He said, "Upon assumption." So Abū Ḥanīfah said, "Allāh, the Exalted, says, 'O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption (dhann). Indeed some assumption is sin.' (49:12). And this is a sin from you, and every sin is disbelief according to you. So you must repent from disbelief." He said, "You have spoken truthfully O shaykh, I repent from disbelief."
Manāqib Abī Ḥanīfah of al-Muwaffaq al-Makkī (pp.151-152).
Via: Shaykh Abu 'Iyaadh Amjad Rafiq
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