End of Fitna: Religious Persecution

END OF FITNA: RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION thinking from all points of view. The rulers supported religious persecution, for they knew full well that it was favourable to their maintaining their political power. In a democracy, a political party takes its mandate from the voters, whereas in ancient times, the kings acquired the right to rule through idolatrous beliefs. The Companions of the Prophet ended the fitna, that is, religious persecution, which presented the main obstacle to religious freedom.