Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: The tribulation (fitnah) referred to here is that in which the truth is not clear to a person, or by participating in the tribulation, it necessarily leads to its further intensification, and the harm outweighs the benefit. However, if the truth is clear and it is necessary to stop the individual or individuals committing excess, or if the tribulation can be quelled, then one should support the group upon the truth and close the door to tribulation.

Hadith Commentary:
So that one may remain protected from these tribulations.
The intended meaning is the tribulation (fitnah) that arose among the Muslims themselves, and it became unclear on which side the truth lay; in such a time, seclusion is better.
Some have said that one should migrate from the city where such tribulation has occurred, and if a group is afflicted by calamity and someone comes to kill him, he should be patient.
He should be killed, but not raise his hand against a Muslim.
Some have said that he may save his life and wealth.
The majority of scholars hold the view that when a group rebels against the Imam, it is permissible to fight them alongside the Imam, as happened during the caliphate of Ali radi Allahu anhu, and most of the senior Companions joined him in confronting the rebellious group of Muawiyah radi Allahu anhu, and this is the truth. However, some Companions, such as Sa’d and Ibn Umar and Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhum, remained apart from both parties and stayed at home.

Hadith Commentary:
1.
The categorization mentioned in the hadith pertains to those who are interested in tribulations (fitan).
In light of various hadiths, the degree of evil, in terms of increase or decrease, will be considered in the following order:
➊
The one who runs about (actively involved).
➋
The one who walks (less involved).
➌
The one who stands (shows interest).
➍
The one who sits (merely a spectator, not participating in fighting).
➎
The one who lies down (considers the tribulations good but is not a spectator).
➏
The one who sleeps (does nothing at all and does not even consider them evil).

Among them, the most wretched and detestable are those who strive in these tribulations and fuel them; they are described as those who run about.
Then, the next level is for those who are not the cause of these tribulations but incite them; they are referred to as those who walk.
Lesser than them are those who take interest in them; they are called those who stand.
Then, there are those who are spectators but do not participate in fighting; they are called those who sit.
After that is the level of those who consider these tribulations good but are not spectators; they are described as those who lie down.
The lowest level is that of the person who does nothing at all and does not even consider them evil; he is called the one who sleeps. That is, the less one is involved in mischief, the better he is among them, and the more one is involved, the worse he is among them.
(Fath al-Bari: 13/39)
2.
It should be clear that this refers to the era in which disputes arise out of the desire for dominion and power, and distinguishing between truth and falsehood becomes difficult, as is mentioned in one narration:
A Companion said: O Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! When will this be? He replied:
“In the days of confusion (harj), when a person will not even trust the one sitting with him.”
(Fath al-Bari: 13/40 and Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Fitan, Hadith: 4258)