The Ruling on Fighting the Rebels and the Condition of Military Strength

Question:
A questioner asks: Is it a condition that the rebels (baghat) be a group for the rulings concerning rebels to apply to them, or is it sufficient for a single person to rebel, and are they then considered among the people of rebellion?

Answer:
If the rebels have military strength (shawkah) and intend to fight the one in authority, or to incite people against him, then they are to be fought until their harm is eliminated, whether they are few or many. However, if they express the views of the rebels but do not have military strength or, that is, power, then they are to be advised, their doubts are to be addressed, so that perhaps they may return to the truth. The important point is that if they pose a danger, they are to be fought. But if they do not pose a danger, and merely adopt this idea without carrying weapons or seeking to divide the Muslims, then they are to be advised and dealt with, so that perhaps they may repent, or at least their harm is contained and not spread among the people.