those who call others to religious innovation and those who openly commit wrongdoing, in ways not imposed upon a hypocrite who conceals his hypocrisy without calling others to it. These are examples comparing an unbeliever with a sinful Muslim, a sinful person with an upright person, and a hypocrite with a believer who openly displays an innovation or sin. I have explained the reason for this: punishing these people serves to protect religious and worldly life from the wrongdoing of wrongdoers. By contrast, the punishment of someone who wrongs only himself rests with his Lord.

“The crux of the matter” is that all sins constitute wrongdoing: a person either wrongs himself alone or also wrongs others. Where others are wronged, punishment must be prescribed sufficient to protect religious and worldly life from the wrongdoer’s wrongdoing. As Allah Most High says:

“Permission to fight has been given to those who are being fought, because they have been wronged. And indeed, Allah is able to grant them victory.”

Thus, He made “because they have been wronged” the ground permitting the punishment of others by fighting them.

He also says:

“Fight them until there is no more persecution and worship is for Allah. But if they cease, then let there be no aggression except against the wrongdoers.”

He thus makes clear that aggression may be directed against the wrongdoer—that is, by exceeding the generally applicable limit in dealing with him, namely through punishment. This is permissible aggression, as He says:

“So whoever transgresses against you, transgress against him in the same measure as he has transgressed against you.”

Some say that this is not really aggression, but is called aggression only to mirror the wording describing the original act. They say the same concerning His words:

“The recompense of an evil is an evil like it.”

There is no need for this explanation. Aggression, in its general sense, means exceeding the generally applicable limit. This is not permissible in dealing with someone unless he himself transgresses; the limit may then be exceeded in dealing with him to the same extent that he exceeded it.