Translation: Ishaaq bn AbdirRaheem Aboo Aamir
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Abu al-Aaliyah – may Allaah bestow mercy on him – said: ‘During the war between Alee and Mu’aawiyah [may Allaah be pleased with both] I was a young man, I once got myself prepared for the war, I put on my weapon then I went where the warriors were. There, I saw two big armies, the end of each could not be seen [due to their massiveness], then I recited this Verse [out of fear of killing Muslims on the other side]:
ÙˆÙŽÙ…ÙŽÙ† يَقۡتÙÙ„Û¡ Ù…ÙؤۡمÙنٗا مّÙتَعَمّÙدٗا ÙَجَزَآؤÙÙ‡ÙÛ¥ جَهَنَّم٠خَٰلÙدٗا ÙÙيهَا وَغَضÙبَ ٱللَّه٠عَلَيۡه٠وَلَعَنَهÙÛ¥ وَأَعَدَّ Ù„ÙŽÙ‡ÙÛ¥ عَذَابًا عَظÙيمٗا
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
[Nisaa: 93]
He said: ‘I turned back and left them.’
Hilyah al-Auliyaa, vol2, 219.
Translator's Note: The Fitnah here is the one between righteous people who are having a misunderstanding over a matter Allaah may excuse them for but which one group is more correct than the other. For instance, those with Alee in the feud were more correct than those with Muawiyah. Nevertheless they were all righteous Muslims and we will not rebuke one group for the other.
Therefore, when the people of Sunnah strive against the people of Bid'ah, we don't call that a Fitnah. Bid'ah is to be fought to a standstill albeit with correct methodologies and calculations.
Allaah's aid is sought.
