The comparison of Kharijism and Wahhabism

The caliphate discussions that took place after the death of the Prophet (pbuh) formed the basis of the first faction among Muslims. In the period when the political struggles caused by the caliphate debates were most intense, the Kharijism emerged with radical religious views and added a theological dimension to the experiences. Since the Kharijites evaluated all political activities on the axis of creed, they considered different political views as an creed difference. The Wahhabis, who had some commonalities with the Kharijites and emerged in Arabia in the 18th century, first engaged in activities in the Nejd region and later ruled the Hejaz lands, the holiest region of Islam. Wahhabism has been discussed a lot with its new interpretations on religious issues. As a result of intense activities, Wahhabis gained supporters in different geographies of the Islamic world. In this study, it has been tried to compare the Kharijite, one of which is considered to be the first sect in the history of Islamic sects, and the Wahhabism movement, which emerged relatively recently, in every aspect. Two sects, one classical and the other belonging to the modern period, identified with takfir, violence and othering, were compared politically, sociologically and theologically. It has been observed that these two sects, which emerged in the same geography and socio-cultural environment, developed similar ideas and actions. As a result of this sociocultural atmosphere in which the non-self is seen as a natural enemy, it has been determined that both sects exhibit a reactive and pro-violent attitude.