a particular individual or clan, and in rejecting anyone who brings a truth other than what they themselves claim. They also resemble them in following their desires or distorting words from their proper places, delaying the breaking of the fast and the sunset prayer, and other such practices, and declaring unlawful the meat of animals slaughtered by others. They resemble Christians in their excessive veneration of human beings, their innovated acts of worship, their association of partners with Allah, and other matters. They ally themselves with Jews, Christians, and polytheists against Muslims. These are the traits of hypocrites.

Allah Most High says:

“O you who believe, do not take the Jews and Christians as allies. They are allies of one another. Whoever among you takes them as allies is indeed one of them.”

He also says:

“You see many of them taking the disbelievers as allies. Evil indeed is what their souls have sent ahead for them: Allah is angry with them, and they will remain in punishment forever.”

“Had they believed in Allah, the Prophet, and what was revealed to him, they would not have taken them as allies. But many of them are defiantly disobedient.”

They have neither reason nor transmitted authority, neither a sound religion nor worldly success. They perform neither Friday prayers nor congregational prayers—whereas the Khawārij used to perform both. They do not consider it lawful to wage jihad against the disbelievers under the Muslim rulers, to pray behind them, to obey them in obedience to Allah, or to enforce any of their rulings, because they believe that these things are permissible only under an infallible imam.

They believe that this infallible imam entered the underground chamber more than four hundred and forty years ago. To this day, he has not emerged, nor has anyone seen him, nor has he taught anyone the religion, nor