Saeed bin Jubair (may Allah have mercy on him) says that once Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) came to us. We hoped that he would narrate excellent hadiths to us, but before he could, a man (whose name was Hakam) spoke up and said, "O Abu Abdur Rahman! What is your opinion about fighting during the days of tribulation (fitnah)? Because Allah Almighty says: 'Fight them until there is no more fitnah.'" He replied, "May your mother weep for you! Do you know what fitnah is? The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fight the polytheists, and at that time, entering into the religion of the polytheists was fitnah. It was not like today, when you fight for the sake of government."