Islam; they are comparable to those who withheld zakat and to the Kharijites whom Alī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him, fought.

For this reason, Alī’s conduct, may Allah be pleased with him, differed between his fighting against the people of Basra and Syria and his fighting against the people of Nahrawān. He treated the people of Basra and Syria as a brother treats his brother, whereas his treatment of the Kharijites was different. Authentic reports from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, support the consensus ultimately reached by the Companions concerning the fighting undertaken by Abu Bakr al-Siddīq and the fighting against the Kharijites. This differs from the internal conflict involving the people of Syria and Basra: the scriptural texts convey what they convey concerning it, and the Companions and Successors differed over it.

Moreover, some leading jurists hold that the rebels who must be fought are those who rise against the ruler on the basis of a tenable interpretation, not those who withdraw from obedience to him. Others regard both categories as rebels. There is, however, a clear distinction between rebels and the Tatars. As for those who do not adhere to the manifest laws of Islam established through mass transmission, I know of no disagreement concerning the obligation to fight them.

With this principle established, the army of the people asked about comprises disbelievers—Christians and polytheists—as well as people who profess Islam, who constitute the majority of the army. They pronounce the two testimonies of faith when asked to do so and revere the Messenger. Yet very few of them pray, although fasting Ramadan is more common among them than prayer. They hold Muslims in higher esteem than others