in fact the case. Those people would not initiate fighting against the transgressors until they regarded them as aggressors against themselves, although their offence might consist only in neglecting an obligation, such as refusing to obey a particular person and join the united community. Even if such a group is transgressing, when fighting it entails greater evil—as actually happened—than merely leaving matters at that, the fighting constitutes civil strife, and refraining from it is what is prescribed, even if the one fighting is closer to the truth and is exercising scholarly judgment.

Most disputes among groups of believers over fundamental doctrines and other questions—concerning the divine attributes, predestination, leadership, and other matters—fall into this category. Among those involved are scholars whose judgment is correct and others whose judgment is mistaken; the mistaken scholar may also be transgressing. There are also those who transgress without exercising scholarly judgment, and those who fall short in the patience they have been commanded to observe.

Whatever gives rise to civil strife and division, whether word or deed, is not part of the religion. Rather, the person who is correct and just must patiently refrain from civil strife and endure the ignorant person’s ignorance and injustice, if that person is not acting on an interpretation. If, however, that person too is acting on an interpretation, his error is forgiven. As for the harm he causes through his words or deeds, he is rewarded for exercising scholarly judgment, and his error is forgiven. For the person wronged, this is a trial and a test.