JIHAD SECTION · 129 – The Ruling on Killing a Prisoner with an Arrow
It is narrated from Ibn Tali that:
We went on an expedition with ‘Abdurrahmaan, the son of Khalid ibn al-Walid.
Four strong men were brought from among the enemy. He ordered them to be killed, and they were targeted and killed.
Abu Dawood said: It is related to me from Ibn Wahb that someone other than Sa’id said that he had them targeted and killed with arrows.
This news reached Abu Ayyub al-Ansari, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbid targeting [for killing]. By Allah, in whose hand is my soul, I would not target even a chicken and shoot it. This news reached ‘Abdurrahmaan, the son of Khalid ibn al-Walid, and he freed four slaves as atonement for this act.