obligation. What further strengthens the view that it is obligatory is that the Prophet ﷺ said: “If he refuses, then let him fight him.” The basic ruling regarding fighting a Muslim is that it is prohibited, as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Insulting a Muslim is wickedness, and fighting him is disbelief.” (1)

However, it is known that what is meant by fighting in repelling the passer is to push him back forcefully, not to kill him with a weapon one may have. That is, it is not killing, but rather fighting; and the manner of fighting anything is commensurate with the situation. Even fighting that does not lead to killing is prohibited between a Muslim and his brother unless there is something that justifies it.

They said: One is not commanded to do something whose basic ruling is prohibition except in order to attain something obligatory. Thus, one is not commanded to fight unless repelling the passer is obligatory, because nothing renders what is prohibited permissible except that which is obligatory. They also said: It serves the purpose of disciplining the aggressor, for one who passes directly in front of you is acting aggressively against you. Hence, the Messenger ﷺ said: “For he is but a devil”; and in another wording: “For the companion-devil is with him.” (2) That is, the devil commands him to do so, and restraining an aggressor is obligatory.

They also said: It awakens the hearts of the heedless, for many people walk through the mosque with their eyes raised towards the sky, without caring whether those before them are praying or not. When you repel him, you alert him, and thereby awaken the heedless. As you can see, the textual and rational evidence for this narration from Ahmad is strong.