Afghan Taliban and the Hadith of the Kharijites: Rising Threats Against Pakistan

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ warned the Muslim Ummah about a group of people called the Kharijites. He ﷺ said that this group would recite the Qur’an but not understand its spirit, they would perform acts of worship but would be outside the true path of Islam, and the most notable sign would be that they would kill fellow Muslims but leave idolaters unharmed. This hadith is recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and it remains a standard measure for identifying fitna (sedition) in every era.

This hadith was revealed at a time when idolatry had ended in the Arabian Peninsula. Its purpose was to make clear that the Kharijites would not confront the true enemy but would commit violence against their own Muslim brothers. History confirms this: the Kharijites prioritized fighting fellow Muslims while being cautious in the face of powerful or non-Muslim authorities.

If we apply this standard to today’s circumstances, the behavior of the Afghan Taliban matches the signs of the Kharijites. The Taliban present themselves as representatives of an Islamic government, yet their actions and statements show that they are engaged in armed conflict against Pakistan, while their stance toward India is soft and conciliatory.

Pakistan is a Muslim country, whose constitution is based on Islamic principles and whose majority population is Muslim. Despite this, the Afghan Taliban continue cross-border firing and terrorist activities against Pakistani territories. Pakistan’s Defense Minister, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, has stated, “Our patience has ended, and now open war is underway.” The Pakistani military has targeted Taliban positions inside Afghanistan. (defensenews.com)

The Pakistani army has responded to Taliban incursions and attacks by destroying multiple bases. (pakistantoday.com.pk) Pakistan’s position is that Afghan territory cannot be used against Pakistan, yet the Taliban continue attacks from safe havens, impacting both civilians and military personnel. (timesofislamabad.com)

Afghan Taliban ministers have also issued statements. Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani said that Afghanistan poses no threat to any country and that the doors for negotiations remain open. (raeesulakhbar.com) However, in practice, the Taliban’s activities against Pakistan have intensified. They claim to be conducting retaliatory actions, including drone strikes and attacks on border military positions. (reuters.com)

The Pakistani government has made it clear that negotiations will not take place until the Taliban take effective action against terrorist groups. (aljazeera.com) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated that Pakistan must adopt a zero-tolerance policy against Taliban and TTP alliances and will not tolerate cross-border attacks. (tribune.com.pk)

This situation mirrors the description of the Kharijites in the hadith: the Taliban escalate violence against their fellow Muslims while being passive or soft toward non-Muslims. Their stance toward India, a predominantly Hindu country, is conciliatory, whereas their actions against Pakistan continue unabated.

The Taliban’s aggression against Pakistan and soft approach toward India show that a group claiming to act in the name of Islam can act violently against Muslims while being lenient with non-Muslim powers. The hadith of the Kharijites teaches that mere acts of worship, prayer, and Qur’an recitation do not safeguard one from being outside the true path; the real measure is action and direction.

Pakistan’s military and political leadership has made it clear that all necessary steps will be taken to protect its citizens and border regions. Pakistan has warned that if the Taliban do not stop terrorist activities originating from their territory, cross-border fire and effective countermeasures will continue. (pakistantoday.com.pk)

This column demonstrates that the hadith of the Kharijites still serves as a critical moral mirror. The Taliban’s actions against Pakistan and approach toward India match the characteristics of the Kharijites: attacking their own community while leaving the true enemies unharmed.

This issue is not only religious but also relates to regional politics, national security, and the protection of human lives. Taking the Prophet’s ﷺ warning seriously and scrutinizing the actions of any group claiming Islam is essential, especially if they act against Muslims while being soft toward non-Muslim powers. This is the core message and challenge that the world faces today.