abu-bakr-naji-the-management-of-savagery-the-most-critical-stage-through-which-the-umma-will-pass

it before the field commanders can apply it. Of course, it is not necessary to refer to those
firmly-grounded in knowledge every time, particularly if that is impractical. However, a
guideline for targeting a class of people or undertaking a certain kind of action must, before
it is authorized and repeated, be passed by those who are firmly-rooted in knowledge
(before) the first attempt, at the very least.
Note: The person of unknown status intended here is one for whom there is no indication as
to whether he is a Muslim or an infidel. There are no visible signs on him of being a Muslim
and likewise there is no visible sign on him of being an infidel and it is not known if he is
one of the violators of Islam.
The Second Example:
In the previous example we saw how the failure to grasp the problem in the subject of "the
person of unknown status" almost led to disaster. In this second example, the error arises
from the failure to grasp or the ignorance of another problem, which is "the Muslim whose
status is hidden". This is a more weighty issue than the previous one and we suffer from its
effects until the present time. It happened after a group of ignorant and inexperienced
people took control of the leadership of the movement of the armed Islamic group in
Algeria after the death of one leader after another and the death of those who have a good
amount of discipline. The new leadership authorized an unjust rule, based on dubious
proofs, which is set forth in the principle, "Everyone who is not with us is against us".
Those people classify the noncompliant people as oppressors and innovators and they,
meaning any Islamic group, do not operate under their banner, even though they were
correct to declare that those who fought for the sake of the elections (in Algeria) were