We do not consider it permissible to rise up against our leaders and those entrusted with our affairs:—“just retaliation for those killed” [al-Baqarah 2:178], meaning that it has been made obligatory for you. The Exalted also says, “And We ordained for them therein: a life for a life” [al-Māʾidah 5:45].

Third: the apostate, who is to be put to death as the prescribed punishment for apostasy. Apart from these three cases, the life of a Muslim is inviolable in the strongest sense.

The same applies to rebellion: if anyone takes up arms against the Muslims—even though he himself is a Muslim—the rebels are to be fought, for they seek to fracture the unity of the Muslims and overthrow their leader. Thus they must be fought, as in His saying, “If two groups of believers fight, make peace between them; but if one of them transgresses against the other, fight the one that transgresses until it returns to the command of Allah” [al-Ḥujurāt 49:9]. Their blood becomes lawful only to restrain them from rebellion, preserve the community and cohesion of the Muslims, and safeguard security.

The same ruling applies to highway robbers: “The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land is that they be killed, or crucified, or have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides, or be banished from the land” [al-Māʾidah 5:33]. Their punishment is commensurate with the crimes they commit.

These, then, are the people whom Allah has permitted to be killed in order to repel their evil and aggression.

This is a grave matter. Among the fundamentals of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamāʿah is that they do not deem it permissible to revolt against the Muslim authorities: “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those in authority among you” [an-Nisāʾ 4:59]. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: