The earth drinks the blood of scholars once again. Another man of knowledge silenced. Another guardian of faith gunned down near a mosque. This time, it is Mufti Shakirullah. Before him, it was Maulana Hamid-ul-Haq in Akora Khattak. And before that, countless others. The murderers are known. Their ideology is infamous. Yet, they continue to exist, to spread, to kill.
Who are these people? The Khawarij outcasts of Islam, extremists who distort religion to serve their thirst for blood and power. They claim to uphold faith, but their hands are stained with the blood of those who teach it. They call themselves warriors of justice, yet they slaughter innocent worshippers.
The question is no longer who they are, but why they are still allowed to exist.
The Khawarij are not a new phenomenon. Their roots trace back to the early days of Islam, when they rebelled against legitimate authority, declaring anyone who disagreed with them as an apostate. Their ideology was simple: agree with them or die. Their first major crime? The assassination of Hazrat Ali (RA), the fourth Caliph of Islam.
Throughout history, their blood-soaked legacy has remained unchanged. They appear in different forms, under different banners, but their core belief remains constant violence in the name of religion, with a complete disregard for its actual teachings.
The modern-day Khawarij follow the same script. They operate under different names, but their actions reveal their true nature. They attack mosques, religious scholars, and even children, justifying their crimes with twisted interpretations of faith.
Why the Khawarij Must Be Eliminated?
The presence of the Khawarij is a direct threat to peace, not just in Pakistan but across the world. Here’s why their elimination is essential:
The Khawarij use religious slogans, but their actions prove their hatred for Islam. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) himself warned about them, calling them the “dogs of Hell” and stating that they would “recite the Quran, but it will not go beyond their throats.” Their claim to piety is a deception they do not serve faith; they serve chaos.
Killing scholars is not just murder; it is an attack on knowledge, wisdom, and the very foundation of Islamic learning. The Khawarij understand this well, which is why they focus on eliminating those who stand for true Islam. When they attack mosques, they prove that no place is sacred to them, no blood too pure to be spilled.
No country can progress with the presence of such extremists. They create fear, destroy institutions, and halt development. Where they exist, law and order crumble. Governments spend billions fighting them, resources that should be used for education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
The Khawarij are parasites of society. They do not build; they destroy. Their ideology cannot survive where education is strong, where critical thinking flourishes. That is why they attack schools, assassinate teachers, and spread fear among those who seek knowledge.
History has shown that appeasing extremists only strengthens them. Soft policies, negotiations, and half-hearted measures allow them to regroup, rebrand, and return with greater force. The only way to deal with them is through decisive and uncompromising action.
What Must Be Done?
Governments must abandon the illusion that these extremists can be reasoned with. They are not political entities; they are criminals. Any group promoting or supporting Khawarij ideology must be dealt with as a threat to national security.
Religious scholars must be provided with security. Mosques and madrasas must be safeguarded. The enemies of knowledge should not be allowed to freely target those who dedicate their lives to spreading it.
The battle against the Khawarij is not just physical; it is intellectual. Their ideology must be dismantled through education, awareness, and strong religious counter-narratives. Scholars must take the lead in exposing their lies and presenting the true teachings of Islam.
The Khawarij do not survive on their own. They have financial backers, sympathizers in power, and propagandists who normalize their existence. These enablers must be identified and punished. No mercy should be shown to those who provide them with a platform.
The Khawarij are not just Pakistan’s problem. They exist in many parts of the world under different names. A collective effort is needed to root them out completely, ensuring that they have no safe havens anywhere.
Failure is Not an Option
If the Khawarij are not eliminated, their poison will spread further. More scholars will fall. More mosques will burn. More innocent lives will be lost.
This is not just a battle for security; it is a battle for the soul of Islam. A battle for peace, for knowledge, for a future where faith is not hijacked by those who twist it for their own gain.
The time for action is now. The question is—will we rise to defend our scholars, our mosques, and our future, or will we wait until there is nothing left to protect?
