his own prayer compared with theirs, his fasting compared with theirs, and his recitation compared with 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. If I live to encounter them, I will destroy them as ʿĀd were destroyed.” The Companions of Allah’s Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, fought them alongside the Commander of the Faithful, ʿAlī ibn Abī Tālib, at the command of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace.

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said concerning them in an authentic hadith:

“A group will break away at a time of division among the Muslims. The nearer of the two factions to the truth will kill them.”

For this reason, leading scholars of Islam, such as Sufyān al-Thawrī and others, said that religious innovation is dearer to Iblīs than sin, because religious innovation is not repented of, whereas sin is repented of.

What they mean by saying that religious innovation is not repented of is that someone who introduces an innovation, adopting as religion something that neither Allah nor His Messenger has prescribed, has had his evil deed made appealing to him, so that he regards it as good. He therefore does not repent as long as he regards it as good. Repentance begins with recognizing that one’s action is evil, so that one may repent of it; or recognizing that one has neglected a good deed commanded as obligatory or recommended, so that one may repent and perform it. As long as he regards his action as good, although it is in fact evil, he does not repent.

Nevertheless, repentance from it is possible and does occur: Allah may guide him and direct him until the truth becomes clear to him, just as He, glorified and exalted is He, has guided those whom He has guided among the disbelievers, the hypocrites, and groups among the people of