And they justify this by fabricating claims that the People of the Portico fought him and said:

“We are with Allah; whoever Allah is with, we are with him.”

By this they mean the divine decree and “the reality of the created order,” rather than the divine command and “the reality of religion.” Such arguments are invoked by those among the people who profess poverty who support unbelievers and evildoers and protect them through their hearts, resolve, and inward concentration. Despite this, they believe that they are among Allah’s friends and that they may lawfully depart from the law of Muhammad.

All this is error and falsehood. Even if its adherents practise asceticism and worship, they are to worshippers what their allies among the Tatars and others like them are to soldiers. For “A person follows the religion of his close friend,” and “A person will be with those he loves.” Thus said the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Allah has made the believers allies of one another and the unbelievers allies of one another.

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, commanded that those who pass out of Islam be fought, despite their extensive worship. Concerning them, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Any one of you would consider his prayer insignificant compared with theirs, his fasting compared with theirs, and his recitation compared with theirs. They recite the Quran, but it goes no farther than 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 certainly kill them as Ād were killed.”

These were the people whom the Commander of the Faithful, Alī ibn Abī Tālib, fought when they departed from the law of the Messenger of Allah