As for fighting the rebels—those who rise against the imam, oppose the community, and adopt a doctrine they have innovated—the matter must be considered. If their doctrine does not lead them to abandon their public support for obedience to the imam, if they do not withdraw into a territory where they can remain apart, and if they are merely scattered individuals within the reach of the authorities, they are left alone without being favored, and the rulings applicable to the people of justice are applied to them in matters of rights and prescribed penalties.

A group of the Kharijites once confronted ʿAlī, may Allah be pleased with him, by opposing his position. One of them said, while ʿAlī was preaching from his pulpit, “There is no judgment except that of Allah, Most High.” ʿAlī replied, “This is a word of truth by which falsehood is intended. You have three guarantees from us: we will not prevent you from attending Allah’s mosques and mentioning His name therein; we will not initiate fighting against you; and we will not withhold the fayʾ from you so long as your hands remain with us.”

If they openly profess their doctrine while continuing to mingle with the people of justice, the imam explains to them the corruption of their belief and the invalidity of their innovation, so that they may abandon it in favor of true belief and return to conformity with the community.