rather, they are safe and delivered. Yet when wickedness proliferates, even the righteous are overtaken, for Allah says, “And beware of a trial that will not strike only those of you who have done wrong, and know that Allah is severe in punishment” (al-Anfal 8:25).
Here “wickedness” refers to two things:
- Vile deeds.
- Vile people.
When vile deeds spread through a society—even if its members are Muslim—they bring destruction down upon themselves. Likewise, when the number of unbelievers increases within it, they too expose themselves to ruin.
For this reason the Prophet ﷺ warned against allowing Jews, Christians, or idolaters to remain in the Arabian Peninsula. He said, “Expel the Jews and the Christians from the Arabian Peninsula.” During his final illness he stated, “Expel the polytheists from the Arabian Peninsula.” Near the end of his life he declared, “If I live on, I will surely expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula,” and he affirmed, “I will expel the Jews and Christians from the Arabian Peninsula until I leave none there.”