there is no doubt that the correct path is what the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) constantly emphasized and reminded his Companions of in every sermon: the best guidance is the guidance of Muḥammad (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam). Therefore, all Muslims, especially those concerned with re-establishing Islamic governance, must begin where the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) began, which we summarize in two simple words: purification and education. This is because we are aware of firm and established truths that are overlooked—or ignored—by those extremists whose only action is to declare the rulers as disbelievers and then do nothing else. They will continue to declare the rulers as disbelievers, yet nothing will result from them—except for chaos and tribulations. The reality in recent years at the hands of these individuals, starting from the Meccan sanctuary incident to the Egyptian turmoil and the assassination of Sadat, and finally in Syria and now in Egypt and Algeria, is evident to everyone: the shedding of innocent Muslim blood due to these tribulations and calamities, resulting in many trials and disasters. All of this is due to their opposition to many texts of the Quran and the sunnah, the most important of which is His saying: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allāh you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allāh and the Last Day and remembers Allāh often" (Al-Aḥzāb, 21). If we truly want to establish the rule of Allāh on earth—not merely claim it—should we begin by declaring the rulers as disbelievers when we cannot confront them, let alone fight them? Or should we begin—necessarily—with what the Messenger (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) began with? There is no doubt that the answer is: "Indeed, in the Messenger of Allāh you have an excellent example..." But with what did the Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) begin? It is certain to anyone who has a whiff of knowledge that he (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) began by inviting individuals whom he thought were ready to accept the truth, and those individuals from among the Companions responded to him—as is well known in the prophetic biography—then the torture and hardship that befell the Muslims in Mecca occurred. Then came the command for the first and second migrations until Allāh established Islam in Medina, and there began the skirmishes and confrontations, and the fighting began between the Muslims and the disbelievers on one side and the Jews on the other. Thus, we must begin by teaching people the true Islam as the Messenger (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) did, but we cannot now limit ourselves to mere education alone, for innovations and novelties have entered into Islam that do not belong to it and have no connection to it, which have been a cause for the destruction of the grand Islamic edifice