Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhali (may Allaah preserve him) stated:
The khawaarij used to oppose Ali, and they used to oppose the sahaabah, (claiming) that they were the ones in compliance (with the teachings) of Islaam; and that the Sahaabah were misguided and had become disbelievers. It is the same at present– as the saying goes, history repeats itself; at present–according to the these khawaarij– the scholars of the Sunnah are misguided, worshipers of the rulers, spies, employees, people of feasts and ambiguity…and ….and… other distorted (or defamatory statements of these khawaarij) by way of which they hinder the youth of the Ummah from the truth and from the path of Allaah (تبارك وتعالى).
[Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة للإمام المحدث أبي بكر محمد بن الحسين الآجري page: 98. Vol 1]
Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi Al-Madkhalee (may Allaah preserve him) said:
“By Allaah the ummah will not exit from its problems, the humiliation and degradation they are living in; except by way of returning to the Book of Allaah, the Sunnah of the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallaam) and the understanding of the Salafus Saalih in (dealing with) the affairs of the khawaarij and others. Imaam Al-Aajurree (rahimahullaah) said: “The scholars do not differ–past and present–that the khawaarij are an evil people, disobedient to Allaah and His Messenger, even if they (perform) the prayer, fast and strive in (carrying out) acts of worship.”
[Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة للإمام المحدث أبي بكر محمد بن الحسين الآجري page: 97-98. Vol 1]
Amr Ibnul Aas (radiyallaahu-anhu) was one of those given authority and so was Abu Ubaydah Bin Jarraah (radiyallaahu-anhu). And Khaalid Bin Waleed (radiyallaahu-anhu) was given preference over them due to his bravery and usefulness in Jihaad. When Abu Bakr (radiyallaahu-anhu) passed away, Umar Ibnul Khattaab (radiyallaahu-anhu) gave Abu Ubaydah authority over all of them; for Umar Ibnul khattaab used to be tough for the sake of Allaah, so he appointed Abu Ubaydah for he was soft. And Abu Bakr was soft and Khaalid was tough against the disbelievers; so the soft one gave authority to the tough one and the tough one gave authority to the soft one in order to balance the affairs. These two (Abu Bakr and Umar) acted in a manner most beloved to Allaah with regards to fulfilling His Rights.
It has been established in the Saheeh (i.e. Bukhaari and Muslim) that when the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) consulted his companions regarding the affair of the prisoners of war during the battle of Badr, Abu Bakr (radiyallaahu-anhu) suggested that they should be set free after taking ransom on their behalf and Umar (radiyallaahu-anahu) suggested that they should be executed; so the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said:
‘Indeed Allaah softens the hearts of men until they become softer than cloth (of linen or cotton), and He toughens the hearts of men until they become tougher than a rock. And your likeness O Abu Bakr is that of Ibraaheem (alayhis-salaam) when he said:
[فَمَن تَبِعَنِى فَإِنَّهُ ۥ مِنِّىۖ وَمَنۡ عَصَانِى فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ ] ‘But whoever follows me, he verily is of me. And whoever disobeys me, – still You are indeed Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’’ [14:36];
And like Esaa (alayhis-salaam) when he said: [إِن تُعَذِّبۡہُمۡ فَإِنَّہُمۡ عِبَادُكَۖ وَإِن تَغۡفِرۡ لَهُمۡ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ] ‘’If You punish them, they are Your slaves, and if You forgive them, verily You, only You are the All Mighty, the All Wise.’’ [5:118]
And your likeness O Umar is that of Nuh (alayhis-salaam) when he said:
[وَقَالَ نُوحٌ۬ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرۡ عَلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِنَ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرِينَ دَيَّارًا ]’And Nuh (Noah) said: ‘My Lord! Leave not one of the disbelievers on the earth!'[71:26];
And like Musaa (alayhis-salaam) when he said: [وَقَالَ مُوسَىٰ رَبَّنَآ إِنَّكَ ءَاتَيۡتَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَأَهُ ۥ زِينَةً۬ وَأَمۡوَٲلاً۬ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا رَبَّنَا لِيُضِلُّواْ عَن سَبِيلِكَۖ رَبَّنَا ٱطۡمِسۡ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡوَٲلِهِمۡ وَٱشۡدُدۡ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ فَلَا يُؤۡمِنُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَرَوُاْ ٱلۡعَذَابَ ٱلۡأَلِيمَ] ‘’Our Lord! You have indeed bestowed on Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his chiefs splendour and wealth in the life of this world, our Lord! That they may lead men astray from Your Path. Our Lord! Destroy their wealth, and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful torment.’’ 10:88
And they (Abu Bakr and Umar) were as the Messenger described them during his lifetime, and they were (also) his vicegerents to the people of the earth.
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[Abridged–Source: Ad-Waa Min Fataawaa Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullaah) by Sheikh Saaleh al Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him)– Vol: 2.. page 568-569]
