The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 163
IV - Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah & its Magnificent Outcomes 163 as is under their control. This is because, either way, a nation which accepts Islām is obligated to conform their religious and worldly lives to the teachings of Islām. Therefore, my purport is not that a certain group of Muslims has the right to forsake religious principles in its government. Rather, the intent is that if two or more Muslims reside in different countries, or if their organisation is separate from one another, whilst residing in the same country in terms of geography, they may establish separate governments under the spiritual leadership of a single and common Imām or leader. In this case, if one party in addition to spiritually following their Imām is also a part of its government on account of their living with him, even still, the other party can maintain its separate system of government despite being in the religious and spiritual following of the Imām. In this case, where one party shall be with their Imām both in terms of religion and government, the other party shall be with the Imām in terms of religion, but shall maintain a separate system of government. This deduction is made from the account of Abū Baṣīr, because the Holy Prophet sa accepted the term of the Quraish of Makkah that if a Muslim from Makkah came to Madīnah, the Holy Prophet sa would not keep him in Madīnah and include him as part of his government, rather, he would send him back. Then, in accordance with this condition, practically, the Holy Prophet sa also kept Abū Baṣīr and his party excluded from his government, despite their being Muslim. Hence, the acceptance of this condition of the treaty by the Holy Prophet sa and then, his acting in accordance with it, proves that the Holy Prophet sa deemed it permissible for Muslims of difference regions to maintain their own separate government, while remaining of the same religion, rather, while following a single Imām. This is very significant evidence, which is furnished by the account of Abū Baṣīr and the action of the Holy Prophet sa. In actuality, it is in light of such circumstances that the following verse of the Holy Qur’ān was revealed: وَاِن طَائِفَتَان ِ مِن َ الْمُؤْمِنِين َ اقْتَتَلُوا فَاَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا فَاِن بَغَت ْ اِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى ِ بِالْعَدْل بَيْنَهُمَا َتْ فَاَصْلِحُوا ء فَا َ اِلَىٰ اَمْرِ اهللِ فَاِن ء حَتَّىٰ تَفِي تَبْغِي ى ِ الَّت الْاُخْرَىٰ فَقَاتِلُوا َ اِنَّ اهللَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِين وَاَقْسِطُوا “If two parties from among the believers fight each other, make peace between them; then if after that one of them transgresses and uses force against the