al-Najdāt (النَّجْدَات)
العقيدة
التعريف :
One of the early splinter groups of the Khawārij, the followers of Najdah ibn ꜤĀmir al-Ḥanafi. He split up with NāfiꜤ ibn al-Azraq when the latter ruled that it was lawful to kill the children of those who were opposed to him, and ruled that people who do not join him were unbelievers. Najdah then returned to Yamāmah where he was confirmed as the leader. He permitted Taqiyyah, i.e. pretence to share the beliefs of one’s opponents. He also permitted non-participation in jihad.
المعنى الاصطلاحي :
A sub-sect of the Kharijites who were named after their leader Najdah ibn Aamir al-Hanafi. They hold that a defiantly disobedient person is a disbeliever of blessing, not a disbeliever of polytheism, they also deem revolt against a tyrant ruler permissible, etc.
الشرح المختصر :
An-Najdāt (deviant sect) is a sub-sect of the Kharijites. They are also called Najdiyyah. They followed Najdah ibn ‘Āmir from the Banu Hanīfah who accompanied Nāfi‘ ibn Al-Azraq who belonged to the Kharijites, but later deserted him and disassociated himself from him. He went out with those who followed him from the mountains of Oman, and killed the children, captivated women, shed blood, and declared it lawful to rape women and steal others' properties. They are also called ‘Ādhiriyyah because they excuse those who ignorantly make mistakes in rulings pertinent to sub-issues of the religion, but not in fundamentals, like knowledge of Allah Almighty and His Messengers, peace be upon them. Although this attitude is not specific to them, yet it is the reason for them being called so. From their beliefs: 1- Claiming that a fāsiq (defiantly disobedient person) is committing Kufr Ni‘mah (ingratitude of blessing) but not Kufr Shirk (polytheism). That is, it does not take him out of the fold of Islam. 2- They deem it permissible to rebel against the ruler. 3- Claiming that it is not obligatory to appoint an imam and collectively obey him. 4- Claiming that it is permissible to use taqiyyah in one's statements and actions. Taqiyyah means to hide one's beliefs from those who disagree with them. 5- Najdah claimed that whoever disagreed with him concerning his religion will enter Hell. He declared lawful the blood of people of covenant and Dhimmah (protected non-Muslims living under Islamic rule), and declared his disassociation from whoever deemed them unlawful. Najdāt sect is divided into other sub-sects like Fudaykiyyah who are the followers of Abu Fudayk, whose name was ‘Abdullāh ibn Thawr, and ‘Atawiyyah; followers of ‘Atiyyah ibn Al-Aswad Al-Hanafi.
التعريف اللغوي المختصر :
"An-Najdaat": a proper noun ascribed to the term "najdah". It refers to a sect who were given that name for following a man called Najdah.