Munasahat al-Imam Wahb ibn Munabbih li-Rajul Taaththara bil-Khawarij
- Author died
- 1425 AH
- Editions
- Maktabat Ibn Qutaybah - Dar al-Salaf
Munasahat al-Imam Wahb ibn Munabbih li-Rajul Taaththara bil-Khawarij (The Counsel of Imam Wahb ibn Munabbih to a Man Influenced by the Kharijites) is a short classical theological text published and edited by Abd al-Salam bin Barjas Al Abd al-Karim (d. 1425 AH / 2004 CE), documenting an early scholarly dialogue on the doctrines and dangers of the Kharijite sect .
Transmission and Context
The text preserves an account transmitted through Ali ibn al-Madini from Hisham ibn Yusuf al-San'ani, the judge of Sanaa, on the authority of Dawud ibn Qays . Dawud recounted finding a lost, sealed letter addressed to his acquaintance Abu Shamir Dhu Khawlan from the area of Hudar . When Dawud delivered the letter to Abu Shamir, he learned that it was sent by affiliates of the Haruriyya (the Kharijites) in Sanaa concerning the collection of his zakat .
Abu Shamir explained that the Haruriyya had persuaded him that paying zakat to the rulers did not fulfill his religious obligation because the rulers misallocated funds, urging him instead to remit his zakat to them so they could distribute it to the poor and enforce legal penalties . Abu Shamir had consequently begun sending large quantities of produce to them . Because Dawud had attended the teaching circles of Wahb ibn Munabbih—who frequently warned the youth against the Haruriyya—Dawud brought Abu Shamir before Wahb to address his doubts .
Content and Arguments
In his counsel, Wahb ibn Munabbih systematically dismantles the core premises of the Kharijites through scriptural evidence, prophetic traditions, and historical reality:
- Sectarian Exclusivity in Charity: In response to the Haruriyya’s command that Abu Shamir withhold charity and prayers for forgiveness from anyone outside their group, Wahb cited the prophetic report regarding a woman condemned for starving a cat, arguing that if mercy applies to an animal, then showing benevolence to a monotheistic believer is far greater . He supported this with Quranic verses praising those who feed the needy, orphans, and captives purely for the sake of God .
- Prayers for Forgiveness: Wahb refuted the sect's restriction on seeking forgiveness, pointing to the angels who seek forgiveness for all believers and those on earth as described in Surah al-Shura and Surah Ghafir .
- Political Fragmentation and Anarchy: Wahb observed that throughout the early era of Islam, God never allowed the Kharijites to establish a lasting community without causing them to disintegrate, nor did the broader Muslim community ever unite behind a Kharijite leader . He argued that if their doctrines prevailed, society would collapse into lawlessness, travel and the pilgrimage to Mecca would be severed, and multiple rival claimants would emerge, fighting one another and declaring each other disbelievers . By contrast, divine mercy preserved the community through unity under an established ruler who secured roads, defended borders, and protected lives .
- Prophetic Precedents and Forbearance: Wahb cited the examples of Noah, Abraham, and Jesus to illustrate their broad tolerance and hope of forgiveness even toward polytheists, emphasizing that Muslims must emulate the prophets rather than adopt the harshness of the Kharijites .
Practical Injunction and Conclusion
At the conclusion of the dialogue, Wahb advised Abu Shamir on the proper disposal of his wealth: he was to pay his obligatory zakat directly to the authority appointed over the community, thereby discharging his religious duty, and use any additional charity to assist relatives, clients, impoverished neighbors, and guests . Abu Shamir accepted Wahb's advice, formally renounced the doctrine of the Haruriyya, and passed away shortly thereafter .
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