Ali Ibn Abi Talib - Volume 2 of 2

226 The Battles of the Camel and Szffeen and the issue uf arbitration
one of them outrages against the other, then fight you [all] against the
one that which outrages till it complies with the Command of Allah.
Then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly,
and be equitable. Verily, Allah loves those who are the equitable.)
(Qur'an 49: 9)
In this verse, Allah (&) enjoins reconciliation among the
believers if fighting occurs among them. They are brothers, and this
fighting does not mean that they are no longer believers, since Allah
(B) calls them believers here and enjoins reconciliation among
them. If fighting does take place among ordinary believers, and it
does not mean that they are no longer believers, then the Companions
of the Messenger of Allah (s) who fought at the Battle of the Camel
and in subsequent battles are the first who should be included under
the heading of believers that is mentioned in this verse. Before their
Lord, they are still true believers, and the conflict that arose among
them does not affect their faith at all because it came about on the
basis of independent reasoning.799
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (&) said: "The
Messenger of Allah (g) said: 'There will be a group who will go
beyond the pale of Islam at the time of Muslim division, and they will
be killed by the group that is closer to the h-uth."'800
The division referred to in this hadith is the dispute. between
'Ali and Mu'iwiyah (may AUah be pleased with them both). The
Prophet (g) described both groups as being Muslims and connected
to the truth. This hadith is one of the signs of his prophethood,
because things turned out exactly as foretold by the Prophet (g). The
hadith also rules that both groups were Muslims, both the people of
Syria and the people of Iraq. It is not h-ue that the people of Syria
were regarded as disbelievers, as the RZcjis and ignorant folk claim.