سورة المائدة

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Sawrah ibn Kulayb said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): A man leaves his house heading for the mosque or on some need, and someone catches him from behind unawares, beats him, and forcibly takes his clothes from him. He said: "What do the people around you say about this?" I said, they say: "This is open robbery, and a muharib is only one who is in the lands of polytheism (shirk)." Then he said: "Which of the two has greater sanctity, the land of Islam or the land of polytheism?" I said: "The land of Islam." He said: "These people are among those referred to in this verse which says: إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعَوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ ذَلِکَ لَهُمْ خِزْیٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَلَهُمْ فِی الآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِیمٌ [The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land is only that they be killed or crucified, or their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides, or that they be exiled from the land. This is their disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter they will have a great punishment]."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Abu Basir said: I asked Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) about the words of Allah the Exalted: أَنْ یُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ یُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَیْدِیهِمْ وَ أَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ [that they be killed or crucified, or their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides, or be exiled from the land]. He said: "That is up to the Imam (peace be upon him); whichever of them he wishes, he carries out." And I asked him about exile. He said: "He is exiled from all the lands of Islam, and if he is found in any part of the lands of Islam, he is killed, and there is no safe conduct for him until he joins the land of polytheism (shirk)."

Imam Rida (peace be upon him): Ubayd al-Mada'ini said: Imam Rida (peace be upon him) was asked about the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّع أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ ذَلِکَ لَهُمْ خِزْیٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَلَهُمْ فِی الآخِرَةِ عذَابٌ عظِیمٌ [Indeed the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to cause corruption on the earth is that they be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides, or that they be banished from the land. That is a disgrace for them in this world, and in the Hereafter they will have a great punishment]: "What must a person do to become deserving of one of these four punishments?" He said: "If he wages war against Allah and the Messenger of Allah and causes corruption on the earth and commits murder, he is killed in return; and if he kills and takes people's wealth, he is killed and crucified; and if he takes a person's wealth and does not kill anyone, his hand and foot are cut off on opposite sides; and if he draws his sword and wages war against Allah and the Messenger of Allah and causes corruption on the earth but does not kill anyone and does not take anyone's wealth, he is banished from that land." I said: "How is he banished from the land, and what is the limit of his banishment?" He said: "He is banished from the land in which he committed the crime to another land, and it is written to the people of that second city that he is a banished man; so do not sit with him, do not buy from or sell to him, do not marry him, do not eat with him and do not drink with him. And they continue this for one year; and if he leaves that land for another place, they write the same thing to the people of that land as well, until the year is completed." I said: "And what if he heads toward the land of shirk (polytheism) to enter it?" He said: "If he heads toward the land of shirk to enter it, its people are to be fought."

Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him)- Abu Ishaq al-Mada'ini said: I was with Imam al-Rida (peace be upon him) when a man came in and said: "May I be made your ransom, Allah says: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعَوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ [The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land is only that they be killed, or crucified, or that their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides, or that they be banished from the land]." He said: "Yes, Allah has said so." He said: "May I be made your ransom, what act does one commit to deserve one of these four punishments?" So Abu al-Hasan (peace be upon him) said to him: "There are four things; so take four in return for four: if he wages war against Allah and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), and spreads corruption in the land, and kills, he is killed; and if he kills and seizes property, he is killed and crucified; and if he seizes property but does not shed blood, his hand and foot are cut off from opposite sides; and if he wages war against Allah and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and spreads corruption in the land but does not kill and does not seize property, he is banished from that land." The man said to him: "May I be made your ransom, what is the extent of his banishment?" He said: "For one year he is banished from the land in which he committed his crime to another land, and it is written to the people of that land that a herald should proclaim that he is banished; so do not eat with him, do not drink with him, and do not marry him. Then when he goes from that land to another, a similar letter is written to them, and this state continues for a year; and if this is carried out for a year, he will repent, humbled." The man said: "May I be made your ransom, what if he wishes to enter the land of polytheism?" He said: "If he wishes to enter the land of polytheism, his neck is struck."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Ubaydullah al-Mada'ini said: I said to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), "May I be your ransom, inform me about the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّع أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ ذَلِکَ لَهُمْ خِزْیٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَلَهُمْ فِی الآخِرَةِ عذَابٌ عظِیمٌ [Indeed the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to cause corruption in the earth is that they should be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides, or be exiled from the land. That is a disgrace for them in this world, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment]." He then clasped his hand and said, "O Abu Abdillah! Take this — four in exchange for four." And he said, "If he wages war against Allah and the Messenger of Allah and causes corruption on the earth and kills, he is killed in return. And if he kills and takes people's wealth, he is killed and crucified. And if he takes someone's wealth and does not kill anyone, his hand and foot are cut off on opposite sides. And if he draws the sword and wages war against Allah and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) and causes corruption on the earth and does not kill anyone and does not take anyone's wealth, he is exiled from that land." I said, "What is the limit of his exile?" He said, "One year. He is exiled from the land in which he committed the crime to another land, and it is written to the people of that land that he is exiled — so do not eat with him, do not drink with him, and do not marry him — until he goes to another land, and a similar letter is written to the people of that land also, and this state continues for one year. If this is done to him for one year, he will humbly repent."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) was asked about the word of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, who said: إِنَّما جَزاءُ الَّذینَ یُحارِبُونَ الله وَ رَسُولَهُ وَ یَسْعَوْنَ فِی الْأَرْضِ فَساداً أَنْ یُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ یُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَیْدیهِمْ وَ أَرْجُلُهُمْ مِنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْض [Indeed the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to cause corruption in the earth is that they should be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides, or be exiled from the land]. He (peace be upon him) replied thus: "If he kills and did not wage war and did not take anyone's wealth, he is killed. And when he wages war and kills, he is killed and hung on the cross. And when he wages war and takes wealth and does not kill anyone, his right hand and left foot are cut off. And if he wages war and does not kill anyone and does not take any wealth, he is banished and exiled."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): One who wages war against Allah and takes people's wealth and kills, he must be killed and crucified. And one who wages war and kills and does not take any wealth, he must be killed and is not crucified. And one who wages war and takes someone's wealth and does not take a life, his hand and foot must be cut off on opposite sides. And one who wages war and takes no wealth and sheds no blood, he must be exiled. Then Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, made an exception and said, "إِلاَّ الَّذِینَ تَابُواْ مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُواْ علَیْهِمْ [Except those who repent before you have them in your power]" — meaning, they repent before the Imam issues a ruling concerning them.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Dawud al-Ta'i narrates from one of the Shi'a: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the muharib (one who wages war) and said, "Our companions say that the Imam has discretion in his punishment; if he wishes, he may cut off his hand and foot, and if he wishes, he may crucify him, and if he wishes, he may kill him?" He said, "No, these matters have been specified in the Book of Allah the Mighty and Majestic: if he kills and takes property, he is killed and crucified; if he kills and does not take property, he is killed; if he takes property and does not kill, his hand and foot are cut off; and if he flees and they are unable to seize him and later seize him, his hand and foot are cut off, unless he repents — and if he repents, his hand and foot are not cut off."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Muhammad ibn Muslim narrates: Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever draws a weapon in one of the cities and wounds someone is subject to retaliation and is exiled to another city. And whoever draws a weapon outside the cities and strikes and wounds and takes someone's property but does not shed anyone's blood is a muharib (one who wages war), and his punishment is the punishment of a muharib, and his fate is in the hand of the Imam: if he wishes, he kills him and crucifies him, and if he wishes, he cuts off his hand and foot from opposite sides. And if he fights and kills and takes property, the Imam must cut off his right hand on account of the theft, then hand him over to the heirs of the slain so that they may fine him for the property, and then they kill him." Abu Ubayda said to him, "May Allah preserve you, can the heirs of the slain overlook his crime?" The Imam (peace be upon him) said, "If they do so, the Imam must kill him, because he fought and killed and stole." Abu Ubayda said, "And if the heirs of the slain wish to take blood-money from him and release him, is that possible?" He said, "No, he must be killed."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Whoever carries a weapon at night is considered a muharib (one who wages war), unless he is not among the people of suspicion (that is, his identity is clear, or he is a guard or a night patrolman whose work involves weapons).

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): If a man commits fornication, he is flogged, and it is fitting for the Imam to exile him from the land in which he was flogged to another for one year. And likewise it is with a man who steals and has his hand cut off.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abu Ubayda ibn Bashir al-Khath'ami said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the highway robber and said, "The people say, 'The Imam has discretion concerning him and may do whatever he wishes'?" He said, "It is not that he does whatever he wishes, but rather he punishes them according to the extent of their crime: whoever robs on the highway and kills and takes property, his hand and foot are cut off and he is crucified; whoever robs on the highway and kills and does not take property, is killed; whoever robs on the highway and takes people's property and does not kill anyone, his hand and foot are cut off on opposite sides; and whoever robs on the highway and does not take property and does not kill anyone is exiled to another land."

Imam al-Jawad (peace be upon him): Ahmad ibn Fadl al-Khaqani said: In Jalula, on the caravan road, highway robbers attacked travellers — pilgrims and others — and fled ... The governor pursued them, seized them and brought them all under his control. He then wrote a letter to al-Mu'tasim, who gathered the jurists together with Ibn Abi Da'ud. He upheld the opinion of Ibn Abi Du'ad and then sought the view of the others regarding the ruling on them, while Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ali al-Rida (peace be upon him) was also present. They said: "Allah's ruling concerning them has already come in the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعَوْنَ فِی الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ یُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ یُنْفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ [The recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption in the land is only that they be killed, or crucified, or that their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides, or that they be banished from the land], and the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) may rule by whichever of these he wishes." He then turned to Imam al-Jawad (peace be upon him) and said: "What is your opinion?" He said: "They have gone astray in what they have given as a verdict. What is required in this matter is that the Commander of the Faithful look into the case of these highway robbers: if they merely terrified travellers on the road and did not kill anyone or take any property, he orders them to be imprisoned, for that is the meaning of their banishment from the land — because they terrified travellers. If they terrified travellers and killed someone, he orders them to be killed. And if they terrified travellers, killed someone, and stole property, the Commander orders their hands and feet to be cut off on opposite sides, and after that that they be hung on the gallows." He wrote to his governor to carry out this ruling upon them.

Imam al-Baqir (peace be upon him): It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) that his noble father said: If someone enters upon you and intends [to reach] your family and your property, strike him if you can. The thief is at war with Allah and the Messenger of Allah, so kill him; and whatever consequence falls upon you on that account is upon me.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Whoever is killed defending his property is a martyr. In a land where taqiyya (dissimulation) must be practised, it is not lawful to kill any of the disbelievers or the Nasibis except one who is a murderer or one who strives in corruption [on the earth], and that only when you have no fear for yourself or for your companions.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him)- Talha ibn Zayd said: I heard Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) say: My father used to say: War has two rulings. If it is still ongoing and its intensity has not subsided and the fighters have not yet been worn down, then any captive taken in this state — the Imam has the right of decision concerning him: if he wishes, he may strike his neck; and if he wishes, he may cut off his hand and foot from opposite sides, without cauterisation, and leave him to writhe in his blood until he dies. This is the word of Allah the Exalted, who says: إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ اللهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعَوْنَ فِی الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ یُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ذَلِکَ لَهُمْ خِزْیٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَلَهُمْ فِی الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِیمٌ [Indeed, the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to cause corruption in the land is that they be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet be cut off from opposite sides, or they be exiled from the land. That is for them a disgrace in this world, and for them in the Hereafter there is a great punishment]. Do you not see that the choice which Allah has granted the Imam is over one single thing, and that is [these four options as a whole], and the choice is not over different matters." I said to Ja'far ibn Muhammad (peace be upon him): "Explain about the word of Allah: أَوْ یُنفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ [or they be exiled from the land]." He said: This is for pursuit — that the cavalry pursue him and he flees, and when the cavalry take him, judgment is passed upon him according to one of the rulings I have described to you. As for the other ruling, it is when the intensity of the war has come to an end and many of the fighters have been killed, and any captive taken in this state is in their hands, and the Imam has the right of choice: if he wishes, he grants them a favour [and releases them]; and if he wishes, he takes a ransom from them for their lives; and if he wishes, he takes them as slaves, and they become slaves.

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family)- It is narrated from Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): A group of sick people from Banu Dabbah came to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), and the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) said to them: "Stay with me, and when you recover, I will send you on an expedition." They said: "Send us out of Medina." So the Prophet (peace be upon him and his family) sent them to the place where the camels of sadaqah were kept, and they drank from their urine and ate from their milk. When their condition improved and they became strong, they killed three of the camel herders. When this news reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), he sent Ali (peace be upon him), and that group suddenly found themselves in a valley near the land of Yemen, and being bewildered, they had no way of escape from it. Ali (peace be upon him) captured them and brought them to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family), and this verse was revealed: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّع أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ [Indeed, the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption on earth is that they be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides, or that they be exiled from the land]. And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) chose the cutting off of their hands and feet on opposite sides.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Jamil ibn Darraj said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّع أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ ذَلِکَ لَهُمْ خِزْیٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَلَهُمْ فِی الآخِرَةِ عذَابٌ عظِیمٌ [Indeed, the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to spread corruption on earth is that they be killed, or crucified, or their hands and feet be cut off on opposite sides, or that they be exiled from the land — that is a disgrace for them in this world, and for them in the Hereafter is a great punishment], and I said: "Which of these prescribed punishments that Allah has named applies to them?" He said: "That is up to the Imam — if he wishes, he cuts off; if he wishes, he crucifies; if he wishes, he exiles; and if he wishes, he kills." I said: "To where is he exiled?" He said: "He is exiled from one city to another city, and the Commander of the Faithful (peace be upon him) exiled two men from Kufa to Basra."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Burayd ibn Muawiyah said: A man asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ [Indeed, the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger], and he said: "This is up to the Imam — he does with him whatever he wishes." I said: "So the decision has been delegated to him?" He said: "No, rather it is according to the extent of the person's crime."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Samaah ibn Mihran narrates: Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said regarding the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ [Indeed, the recompense of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger]: "The Imam has discretion in the ruling concerning them; if he wishes, he kills, and if he wishes, he crucifies, and if he wishes, he cuts off, and if he wishes, he exiles from the land."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Every ruling in the Quran that contains the word "aw" (or), the one to whom it applies has a choice, choosing and selecting whichever he wishes... Allah has placed the ruling of the muharib (one who wages war) in the discretion of the Imam, to do whatever he wishes. And he said: "Every matter in the Quran that comes with the word "aw" (or), the person may choose."

Imam Ali (peace be upon him): Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) said: Whenever Amir al-Mu'minin (peace be upon him) exiled a person, he would exile him to a city of the people of shirk (polytheism) that was closest to Islam. The Imam's view in this regard was that Daylam was the closest of all the [lands of the] polytheists to Islam.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Abu Basir said: I asked the Imam (peace be upon him) about exile from the land — how is it? He said: "He is exiled from all the lands of Islam, and if he is caught in any part of the land of Islam, he is killed, and there is no safety (aman) for him until he joins the land of shirk (polytheism)."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Abdullah ibn Talha said: I asked Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) about the verse: إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ وَیَسْعوْنَ فِی الأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن یُقَتَّلُواْ أَوْ یُصَلَّبُواْ أَوْ تُقَطَّع أَیْدِیهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلافٍ أَوْ یُنفَوْاْ مِنَ الأَرْضِ ذَلِکَ لَهُمْ خِزْیٌ فِی الدُّنْیَا وَلَهُمْ فِی الآخِرَةِ عذَابٌ عظِیمٌ [The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be exiled from the land; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement]: whether the exile of those who wage war differs from this exile? He said: "The ruler judges over them according to the measure of their deed; he exiles [him] and puts him on the sea, and if the exile is from one land to another land, they cast him from the ship [to the shore of that land] in such a way that his expulsion from one land to another land equals killing, crucifixion, and cutting off the hand and foot; rather, it is a hadd (prescribed punishment) which must be commensurate with the cutting of hand and foot and crucifixion."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): إِنَّمَا جَزَاء الَّذِینَ یُحَارِبُونَ الله وَرَسُولَهُ... [The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger...]; there shall be no buying and selling with him, he shall not be given shelter, he shall not be given food, and he shall not be given charity.