The Quran provides us appropriate guidance concerning the role of the Ulama thus: It is not right that all the believers should go out [in time of war] all together. Why, then, does not a party from every group come to [the Prophet] in order to acquire a deeper knowledge of religion and to warn their people, so that they can guard themselves against evil? (9:122) In this verse, the Muslim community received a guiding principle of a permanent nature. That is, the separation of defence-related activities from the sphere of knowledge. One section of the community was held responsible for engaging in political activities, while another section was entrusted with the responsibility of engaging in knowledge with total devotion.