Nevertheless, they agree that Companions such as Talha, al-Zubayr and others like them are upright, and that it is impermissible to judge them to be unbelievers or morally corrupt. Rather, they exercised independent judgment, whether correctly or mistakenly, and their sins are forgiven. They also state without qualification that rebels are not morally corrupt. If these two groups are treated alike, it follows that the Kharijites and all those who fight them must be equally regarded as people exercising independent judgment who retain their uprightness. For this reason, some have held that rebels are morally corrupt. Ahl al-Sunnah, however, agree on the uprightness of the Companions.

The majority of scholars distinguish between the “Kharijites who break away” and “those who fought at the battles of the Camel and Siffīn,” as well as others counted among rebels acting on an interpretive judgment. This is the position known from the Companions and held by the generality of hadith scholars, jurists and theologians. It is also explicitly stated by most leading scholars and their followers, including the followers of Mālik, Ahmad, al-Shāfi‘ī and others.

This is because it is authentically established that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said:

“A group will break away at a time of division among the Muslims. They will be killed by whichever of the two parties is closer to the truth.”

This hadith mentions the three groups and makes clear that those who break away constitute a third group who are not