when necessity requires it; such property is no more inviolable than human life itself.

Nothing else could have been done. The entire band had not yet emerged from the places where they were hiding, and they only despaired of remaining on the mountain once the trees had been cut. Otherwise they would have kept themselves concealed where no one could discover them. Nor could anyone else have settled the mountain: the Turkmen seek only pasture, and pastureland is now available to them elsewhere, while the rest of the farmers will not leave the cultivation of their own fields to move there.

All praise is due to Allah, Who—through the sultan’s zeal, resolve, and command—facilitated this (1) victory, emptied the mountain of them, and drove them out of their dwellings.

They resemble those whom Allah describes: “He is the One Who expelled the disbelievers among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first banishment. You never thought they would leave, and they themselves thought their fortresses would protect them from Allah; but Allah came upon them from where they did not expect, and He cast terror into their hearts. They destroyed their houses with their own hands and the hands of the believers—so take heed, O people of insight. (2) Had Allah not decreed exile for them, He would have punished them in this world, and in the Hereafter they will have the punishment of the Fire. (3) That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger; and whoever opposes Allah—then Allah is severe in punishment. (4) Whatever date-palm you cut down or left standing on its trunk, it was by Allah’s permission, so that He might disgrace the defiantly disobedient.” (al-Hashr 59:2–5).

Moreover, through this action the might of the innovators and hypocrites in Syria, Egypt, the Ḥijāz, Yemen, and Iraq has been broken—something by which Allah will raise the sultan’s rank and grant honor to the people of faith.