kings. The hearts and forelocks of kings are in My hand. Whoever obeys Me, I make them a mercy to him, and whoever disobeys Me, I make them a punishment upon him. So do not occupy yourselves with reviling kings. Obey Me, and I shall incline their hearts toward you.” (1)

When the Muslims were routed on the day of Uhud, it was the disbelievers who routed them. Allah Most High said:

“Why is it that, when a disaster struck you—though you had inflicted one twice as great—you said, ‘Where did this come from?’ Say, ‘It is from yourselves.’”

[Surah Āl Imrān: 165]

The punishment for sins is lifted through [repentance] and seeking forgiveness (2), good deeds that erase them, and calamities that expiate them.

The bloodshed that occurred within the Muslim community is among the means by which Allah expiates its sins, as stated in the hadith. Civil strife is akin to the state of pre-Islamic ignorance. Al-Zuhri said:

“Civil strife broke out while the Companions of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—were still numerous (3). They unanimously agreed that any blood shed, property taken, or sexual inviolability violated on the basis of an interpretation of the Quran incurred no legal liability. They accorded those involved the same status as the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance.”

This is because Allah Most High sent Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—with guidance and the true religion. Through guidance, the truth is known; through the true religion, goodness is sought and put into practice. There must therefore be knowledge of the truth, the resolve to pursue it, and the ability to act upon it. Civil strife runs counter to all of this, for it prevents knowledge of