Shurat Islam

Shurat Islam (Arabic: شُرَُیَعَتْ اِسْلَاَمْ), formerly known as Kharijites (Arabic: عَلْخَوَاَرِجْ), was a branch of Islam that was one of the three main branches of Islam, along with Shia Islam and Sunni Islam. Though the branch has no followers today, the Ibadi movement is seen as a moderate form of Shurat Islam. However, Ibadis deny being Shuratis.

Initially, Muslims were divided into two groups: Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. After Caliph Uthman died, Ali and Muawiya I fought each other. The Shurati Muslims then emerged and did not pledge allegiance to Ali or Muawiya I. Rather, the Shuratis decided to attack Ali and Muawiya I's followers and takfir them (declare that they were no longer Muslims).

Sometimes, the term Kharijite (or Neo-Kharijite) is also used for some Islamic militant groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the Takfir wal-Hijra in Egypt.

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Category:Islamic denominations