in a number of false claimants to prophethood, such as Musaylima the Liar, Tulayha al-Asadī, and others. Those who were grateful and remained steadfast in the religion rose to fight them: the Companions of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, from among the Emigrants, the Helpers, those granted amnesty, and the Bedouins, together with those who followed them in righteousness. These are the ones of whom Allah, Almighty and Majestic, said:

‘O you who believe! Whoever among you turns away from his religion, Allah will bring forth a people whom He loves and who love Him.’

They were the ones who fought those who turned back on their heels, who did not harm Allah in the least. There is no verse Allah has revealed in the Quran that some people have not acted upon, and others will yet act upon it. Whoever is among the grateful, who remain steadfast in the religion and whom Allah, Almighty and Majestic, and His Messenger love, fights those who turn back on their heels, abandoning the religion, accepting some of it and leaving some aside. Such is the condition of these criminal wrongdoers who spread corruption and have risen against the Muslims. Some of them have uttered the two testimonies of faith and called themselves Muslims without committing themselves to its law.

Their army comprises four groups:

Disbelievers who remain in their disbelief, from among the Georgians, Armenians, and Mongols.

A group who were Muslims but apostatized from Islam and turned back on their heels, from among the Arabs, Persians, Byzantines, and others. These people bear greater guilt in the sight of Allah