islamic theology and science pdf

After the arbitration which concluded the Batle of Siffin in 657 between the forces of thegovernor of Iraq and Syria, Mu’awiyah and the fourth Caliph, Ali ibn Abi Talib), the Khawarij emerged and deviated from the group of Ali’s (ra) supporters.The battle at Siffeen is one of the great encounters that occurred betweenthe armies of ‘Ali ibn Abee Taalib and Mu’aawiyah ibn Abee Sufyaan. Duringthis battle they agreed to make an elect number of men from each sidejudges in the dispute between the two warring factions. However, a faction of’Ali’s army condemned this motion and considered it to be kufr, since Allahsaid in the Qur’an ((Judgment belongs only to Allah)) {Sooratul-An’aam:6}. Thereupon, they dispersed from around him and abandoned him. Theappointment of judges in this event is known as the matter of At-Tahkeem. 1-Khawaarij is taken from the verb ‘kharaja’, which means ‘to depart fromor exit. ‘ This title was given to those who departed from the obedience ofImam ‘Ali during the encounter at Siffeen. They later evolved into an extremesect that declared disbelief upon anyone who differed with them and manytimes would even kill them, while they would show gentleness towards thosewho have yet to accept Islam. The most outstanding point of their creedwas the declaration that anyone who committed a major sin is considered anonbeliever and would spend eternity in the Hell-fire.After Ali (ra) was assassinated, a succession dispute arose between Mu’awiyah andHasan Ali’s (ra) son. A1-Kawthari traces the roots of the the sect that wouldcome to be known as the Mu’tazilah to a group of the Muslims who withdrew from theopposing factions at this time (having been previously affiliated with Ali (ra)) to “cling totheir masajid and busy themselves with knowledge and devotion.”Mu’tazilah comes from the word ‘itizaal, which means withdrawal. t is said that the first to withdraw (that is, to adopt the Mu’tazilee traits) wasAboo Haashim ‘Abdullah and A1-Hasan, the sons of Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafeeyah.[xiii] Then the second (of the two of them) started rebutting theKhawaarij regarding the matter of’Eemaan’ (Faith). He would say, “Eemaanis word and creed without action. ” So he and his group were named Murji-ah (i.e. Those who Defer), since they delay/defer action from faith (eemaan). nd from them a group appeared that used to say, “A sin has no harm withfaith (eeman) {i.e. as long as you have faith}.” And they are the Deferrers ofheresy (Murji-atul-bid’ah).[xiii] Muhammad ibn Hanafeeyah was the son of ‘Ali ibn Abee Taalib from hiswife Hanafeeyah who he married upon the death of Faatimah — may Allah bepleased with them all.