JIHAD SECTION · 104 – Why is war waged against the Mushriks (idolaters)?
Abū Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I was commanded to fight against people until they testify that there is no deity but Allah. When they do so, their blood and wealth are protected from me, and their reckoning is with Allah.” Except for those who have earned a punishment of death or retribution; I will execute the prescribed punishments.
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “I was commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no deity except Allah, and that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the slave and messenger of Allah, and they face towards our qibla (direction of prayer), and eat what we eat, and pray like us. When they do that, their blood and wealth are forbidden for me, and their grievances are resolved by me. [Except] for those who deserve death penalty or retribution.” He further said: “Whatever is good for the Muslims is good for them, and whatever is harmful to the Muslims is harmful to them.”
Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, "I have been commanded to fight against the polytheists." Anas continued his narration, relating the meaning of the preceding hadith.
Usāmah ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent us on a raiding party to Hurakat (a tribe of the Banu Juhaynah). When we arrived, they were frightened and fled. We pursued a man, and when we overtook him, he said, “La ilaha illallah.” We struck him with our swords until we killed him. Upon our return, I recounted this to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Who will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection if 'La ilaha illallah' comes as a witness against you?" I said, “O Messenger of Allah, he recited it only out of fear.” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Do you know that he recited it from his heart or because he feared something else? Who will intercede for him on the Day of Resurrection when 'La ilaha illallah' testifies against you?” He kept repeating this. I even wished that if I had not become Muslim before, I would have become Muslim today.
Mikdad ibn Aswad (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
He said: "O Messenger of Allah! If I meet a disbeliever, he fights me and cuts off one of my arms with his sword, then seeks refuge in a tree and says, ‘I have become Muslim for the sake of Allah,’ should I kill him?"
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not kill him. If you were to kill him, he would take your place before it, and you would take his place before he spoke those words.”