The second: equating these people with those who have apostatized by abandoning some of the laws of Islam.

The third: equating fighting these people with fighting the Kharijites, who pass out of Islam as an arrow passes through its quarry. Hence you find that this group indulges many of the whims of kings and rulers, and commands people to fight alongside them against their enemies, on the grounds that they constitute the just party while their opponents are rebels. In this they resemble those who are partisan toward certain leading scholars, speculative theologians, or shaykhs against their peers, claiming that the truth lies with their preferred leaders or that their position carries greater weight. Such claims arise from personal inclination, which may involve an interpretation born of negligence rather than diligent scholarly judgment. This is common among the community’s scholars, worshippers, rulers, and soldiers. It is part of the internal strife that has not been lifted from this community. We therefore ask Allah to make us just, for there is neither power nor strength except through Him. This is why the most just of all groups are Ahl al-Sunnah, the adherents of hadith.

You find that when these people are commanded to fight those who have passed out of Islam or apostatized by abandoning some of its laws, they direct that the conduct of ‘Alī in fighting Talhah and al-Zubayr be followed: none of their children are to be taken captive, none of their property taken as spoils, none of their wounded finished off, and none of their prisoners killed. They abandon what the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded and ‘Alī practised in fighting the Kharijites, and what Allah commanded His Messenger and al-Siddīq practised in fighting those who withheld zakat. Thus they do not group together those whom Allah has distinguished—apostates and those who pass out of Islam, on the one hand, and Muslims who act wrongfully, on the other—yet they distinguish between those whom Allah has grouped together: kings and leaders fighting one another for sovereignty, even when acting on an interpretation.

And Allah, glorified and exalted is He, knows best.