and the community was not so numerous that sin predominated over acts of disobedience.”

He said: “The wording merely requires that the leader be forbidden to obey a sinner from among the disobedient or a disbeliever from among the polytheists.”

Abū ‘Ubaydah and others said: “No choice is offered here; ‘or’ means ‘and’.” A number of scholars, including al-Baghawī and Ibn al-Jawzī, said likewise.

Al-Mahdawī said: “That is, do not obey anyone who sins or disbelieves. The inclusion of ‘or’ requires that neither be obeyed individually. Had He said, ‘And do not obey either of them, a sinner or a disbeliever,’ the prohibition would apply only when both descriptions were combined.”

It may also be said that the “disbeliever” is someone who denies the truth, even if he has striven to reach the correct judgment but erred. Thus, the former is broader in one respect, and the latter is broader with respect to adherence (1).

Allah’s words also belong to this category:

“If you are ill, on a journey, have relieved yourselves, or have had contact with women.”

For He addressed the believers, saying:

“When you rise for prayer, wash…”

As explained earlier, this includes those in a state of minor ritual impurity. He then said:

“If you are in a state of major ritual impurity, purify yourselves.”

Then He said: “And if you—while in a state of minor or major ritual impurity—are ill or on a journey, and cannot find water, then perform dry ablution.”