the truth, the resolve to pursue it, or the ability to act upon it. Such turmoil gives rise to specious doubts that confuse truth with falsehood until many people—or even most—can no longer distinguish between them. It also gives rise to whims and desires that prevent people from seeking and desiring the truth, while the ascendance of evil weakens their ability to do good (1).

Consequently, during civil strife a person no longer recognizes his own heart, for things assail hearts that prevent them from recognizing and seeking the truth. Hence it is said:

“Blind and deaf civil strife.”

And it is said:

“Trials like patches of a dark night.”

These and similar expressions show how ignorance becomes manifest and knowledge obscured during such times.

Those embroiled in it therefore occupy the same position as the people (2) of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance (*; accordingly, no compensation is due during such strife for lives taken or property destroyed, since liability attaches to one who knows that he (3) has unlawfully taken another person’s life or destroyed his property. As for one who does not recognize this, such as the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance *) (4) among the disbelievers, apostates, and insurgents acting on an interpretation, [they do not recognize this] (5), and so they incur no liability—just as no liability attaches to one who knows that he caused such loss rightfully, although the latter is rewarded and correct.

Those among the people of the pre-Islamic age of ignorance either repent of that ignorance (6), in which case their state of ignorance and whatever occurred during it are forgiven through repentance; or they are among those who deserve punishment for