Thus, the Khārijites’ kufr is a kufr of blessings—ingratitude for what Allah Most High has bestowed upon them.

I asked, “When the Khārijites come out, wage war, and launch raids, and then later conclude a truce, are they to be held liable for what they committed?” He replied, “Once the fighting subsides, no financial indemnity is imposed on them, no ḥadd is enforced against them, and with regard to blood there is likewise no qiṣāṣ.”

I said, “And why is that?” He answered, “Because of the ḥadith that reports that when the tribulation over the murder of ʿUthmān—may Allah be pleased with him—broke out, the Companions—may Allah be pleased with them—agreed that whoever had shed blood would face no retaliation, whoever had violated another’s private parts unlawfully on the basis of an interpretive judgment would face no ḥadd, and whoever had taken property on the basis of an interpretive judgment would not be pursued—unless the very property itself were found, in which case it would be returned to its owner.”

I said, “If someone were to say, ‘I do not recognize a kāfir as a kāfir,’” he answered, “He is the same as him.” I then asked, “So what if…"