Even so, we do not testify that any particular individual will enter the Fire, for he may have repented, had good deeds that erased his evil deeds, or had his sins expiated by Allah through afflictions or other means, as previously explained. Indeed, if one who believes inwardly and outwardly in Allah and His Messenger, and who intends to follow the truth and what the Messenger brought, errs because he did not know the truth, he is more deserving of being excused by Allah in the Hereafter than one who knowingly and deliberately commits the sin. The latter is undoubtedly disobedient and deserving of punishment. The former, however, did not deliberately commit the sin but merely erred, and Allah has pardoned this nation for mistakes and forgetfulness.

Punishment in this world may be imposed to protect the Muslims from his harm, even though in the Hereafter he may be better than someone who was not punished. Thus, a Muslim who transgresses the prescribed limits is punished, whereas Jews and Christians under Muslim protection are not; yet the Muslim will be better than they are in the Hereafter.

Moreover, an adherent of innovation remains governed by caprice: he acts according to his desires rather than out of religious devotion and turns away from any truth that conflicts with them. Allah will punish such a person for following his desires, and one such as this deserves punishment in this world and the Hereafter.

As for those among the early generations who regarded the Kharijites and their like as defiantly disobedient—as it is reported that Sa‘d ibn Abī Waqqās applied to them the words of Allah Most High:

“He misleads thereby only the defiantly disobedient—those who break Allah’s covenant after it has been confirmed, sever what Allah has commanded to be joined, and spread corruption on earth. It is they who are the losers.”

[Surah al-Baqara: 26–27]

That may have been what they meant, particularly when people had become divided and the person was among those seeking (1) leadership for himself and his companions.

If even a Muslim fighting the disbelievers may fight them out of courage, partisan zeal, and ostentation—and such fighting is not in the cause of Allah—then what of the people of innovation who contend and fight