Ibn Taymiyyah states in “Minhaj al-Sunnah al-Nabawiyyah”, when speaking of the Khawarij, that they were ignorant and misguided in their innovation, and that their innovation was not out of heresy and ilhad, but out of ignorance and misguidance in understanding the meanings of the Qur’an. Then he states concerning the Rafidah (extreme Shi`as), that the origin of their innovation was based on heresy and ilhad. Question: What is meant by Ibn Taymiyyah’s statement that the innovation of the Khawarij was not out of ilhad? What is ilhad here and what was their innovation? Furthermore, what is meant by his statement concerning the Rafidah, that their innovation was based on ilhad? What did he mean by ilhad here and what was their innovation? Was it shirk with Allah, like appealing for aid from Ahl al-Bayt?
بدعة الخوارج لم تكن عن زندقة وإلحاد