quote:

A man came to Al-Hasan Al-Basree (rahimahullaah) and asked him what does he think about the Khawaarij. So he replied, "Hum as-haabu dunyaa" (i.e. They are a people who are chasing after this world). So he asked him, "How is it that you say that they are people of this world whereas one of them would plunge himself in the midst of shooters until he is dead, and he would leave behind his wife and children?" So Al-Hasan said: "Tell me about the ruler! Do they prevent you from establishing the salaah, giving the zakaah, performing the Hajj and 'Umrah? What I see is that they withhold from you the possessions of this world and that is why you fight them." End of his statement. [Shaykh Mashhoor Hasan Salmaan explained:]That is, you fight them so that you can be the ruler and you can be the one in charge. Thus, according to Al-Hasan Al-Basree, the Khawaarij are people of this world and their deviance is in their understanding of the deen.