Yet, these people (i.

Yet, these people (i.e. Sunnis), despite their commendation (of the troops of ‘Ali) have a consensus that none of these people (i.e. the baghi people) should be criticized. Rather, they (i.e. Sunnis) say: they did ijtihad and made mistakes .[^5] In simpler words, the murderers of ‘Ammar were free from blame, according to the Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jama’ah! Imam al-Nawawi (d.

676 H) reiterates this: قال العلماء هذا الحديث حجة ظاهرة في أن عليا رضي الله عنه كان محقا مصيبا والطائفة الأخرى بغاة لكنهم مجتهدون فلا إثم عليهم لذلك The scholars said: This hadith is explicit proof that ‘Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was upon the Truth and was correct, and that the other side were baghi people . However, they (i.e. the baghi people) did ijtihad .

Therefore, there was no sin upon them due to that .[^6] Whatever the case, there is Sunni agreement that Mu’awiyah and his troops were the baghi group in the mutawatir hadith . Meanwhile, there are a number of crucial points about Mu’awiyah and his armies in the hadith that need to be looked into in order to deal with their acquittal by the Ahl al-Sunnah.

First, we must understand that being a baghi person or group is haram , as Allah has declared: إن الله يأمر بالعدل والإحسان وإيتاء ذي القربى وينهى عن الفحشاء والمنكر والبغي يعظكم لعلكم تذكرون Verily, Allah commands you to do justice and kindness, and to give to kith and kin, and forbids corrupt behaviours, evil deeds and al-baghi (i.e. being a baghi person or group) . He admonishes you, that you may take heed.[^7] Therefore, Mu’awiyah and his armies were an illegitimate group.

Allah Himself BANNED them. In line with this, it is obligatory for Muslims as a whole to rise in arms against every baghi group within the Ummah : وإن طائفتان من المؤمنين اقتتلوا فأصلحوا بينهما فإن بغت إحداهما على الأخرى فقاتلوا التي تبغي حتى تفيء إلى أمر الله If two groups among the believers fight each other, then make peace between them both.

But if one of them is the baghi against the other, then fight you against the baghi one till it complies with the Command of Allah.[^8] This is the case where the baghi group were “believers”. What then about a case where they were haters of ‘Ali, and therefore “hypocrites” according to the Messenger? Apparently, the group of Mu’awiyah were in a far worse situation.