is corrupt, like Dhu al-Khuwaysira, who objected to it before the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—prompting the Prophet to say what he said concerning him.

Likewise, his followers, the Kharijites, objected to the measures that the Commander of the Faithful, Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—had taken for the common good: agreeing to arbitration and deleting his name. They also objected to his refraining from taking Muslim women and children captive (1). These are the people whom the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—commanded should be fought, for they possess a corrupt religion by which neither this world nor the Hereafter can be set right.

Misguided scrupulousness is often confused with cowardice and miserliness, for both (2) involve refraining from something. Thus, refraining (3) from wrongdoing out of fear of Allah Most High may be confused with refraining, out of cowardice and miserliness, from the commanded duties of fighting and spending. The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said: “The worst traits in a man are avarice that makes him panic and cowardice that makes his heart give way” (4).

Al-Tirmidhi said: “This is an authentic hadith.”

Similarly, a person may refrain from an action, thinking—or making it appear—that he is being scrupulous, when in truth it is arrogance