that is painful.’” [Al-Fath: 16]

Those who were alive in the time of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, were addressed in these words when they stayed behind rather than accompany him. Some remained alive during the caliphates of Abū Bakr, ʿUmar and ʿUthmān, may Allah be pleased with them, so that obeying these caliphs entitled them to reward, while disobeying them incurred painful punishment. This was an indication from Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, of their rightful caliphate—may Allah be pleased with them and place no rancour in our hearts towards any of them. Once the caliphate of one of them is established, the caliphate of all four follows.

[Friday Prayer Behind Every Muslim Imam, Whether Righteous or Sinful]

They hold that prayer—Friday prayer and all other prayers—is to be performed behind every Muslim imam, whether righteous or sinful. Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, made Friday prayer obligatory and commanded attendance at it unconditionally, knowing that those in authority would include the sinful and the defiantly disobedient. He did not exempt one time rather than another, nor distinguish between one command to call people to Friday prayer and another.

[Jihad Alongside the Rulers, Even If They Are Unjust]

They hold that jihad against the disbelievers is to be undertaken alongside these rulers, even if they are unjust. They hold that supplication should be made for their righteousness and their turning towards justice, and they do not approve of