or calling for partisan loyalty, or championing it, and is killed, meets a death like that of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.” In another wording:

“He is not of my community who attacks my community, striking its righteous and wicked alike, neither sparing its believers nor honouring the covenant of those under its protection. He is not of me, and I am not of him.”

“The first” is the one who withdraws obedience from the ruler and separates from the community.

“The second” is the one who fights for partisan loyalty and leadership, not in Allah’s cause, like those who follow their own desires, such as Qays and Yumn.

“The third” is like the highway robber who kills whomever he encounters, whether a Muslim or a non-Muslim under Muslim protection, to seize his wealth. It also includes the renegade Harūriyyah whom Alī ibn Abī Tālib fought, concerning whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Any one of you would consider his prayer insignificant beside theirs, his fasting beside theirs, and his recitation beside theirs. They recite the Quran, but it does not go beyond their throats. They pass out of Islam as an arrow passes through its quarry. Wherever you encounter them, kill them, for whoever kills them will have a reward with Allah on the Day of Resurrection.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded obedience to the ruler, even if he were an Abyssinian slave. As recorded in Sahīh Muslim, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Listen and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave whose head is like a raisin is appointed over you.”

Abū Dharr said: “My beloved friend enjoined me to listen and obey, even if he were an Abyssinian with mutilated