fight, then make peace between them. But if one of them transgresses against the other, then fight the one that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah. If it returns, then make peace between them with justice, and be equitable. Indeed, Allah loves those who are equitable. The believers are but brothers, so make peace between your brothers.” [al-Hujurat 49:9–10]

Thus, He made fighting the transgressing faction obligatory, even though it remains a believing faction and does not leave the fold of faith by fighting.

If someone were to say: The Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, said, “Abusing a Muslim is sinful rebellion, and fighting him is disbelief” (1). This indicates that, so long as they are Muslims, fighting them is forbidden. What is the answer?

The answer is that fighting a Muslim is disbelief unless there is something in the Sacred Law that permits it or makes it obligatory.

Some scholars answered that this is one of the clear and manifest symbols of Islam by which the Muslim community is distinguished from others; it is therefore like the adhan. It was part of the Prophet’s guidance, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, that whenever he came upon a people and heard the adhan, he would leave them alone; otherwise, he would fight them (2). This is what they said.

However, this matter requires further examination, because fighting may result in killing: these people may defend themselves, leading to an armed clash and killing. Yet such killing is not intended in itself. Moreover, the hadith cited does not establish the point in question, for the Prophet’s fighting those from whom he did not hear the adhan was not because they had abandoned the adhan; rather, it was because their not giving the adhan indicated that they were not Muslims. Thus, he fought them for their disbelief, not for abandoning the adhan.