Chapter on baghy (rebellious aggression) and rising up against the imam

I asked, “What is your view of someone who enjoins what is right and forbids what is wrong, and a group of people follow him so that he breaks away from the united community—do you permit that?”

He answered, “No.”

I said, “Why not, when Allah the Exalted and His Messenger have commanded enjoining right and forbidding wrong, and this is a mandatory duty?”

He replied, “That is so, but the corruption they cause is greater than the reform they achieve: blood is shed, sacred limits are violated, and wealth is plundered. Allah the Exalted has said,

‘And if two groups of the believers fight each other, 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.’ ⟨Quran 49:9⟩

I asked, “Then do we fight the rebellious faction with the sword?”

He said, “Yes. You first command and forbid; if they comply, well and good. Otherwise, you fight him and align yourself with the just faction—even if the imam himself is unjust—because of the Prophet’s saying, blessings and peace be upon him:

‘The wrongdoing of one who is unjust and the justice of one who is just will not harm you; yours is your reward and upon him is his burden.’”

I then said to him