16
[The Second Proof for the Prohibition of Killing a Disbeliever Merely on Account of His Disbelief]
Moreover, the scriptural evidence indicates that when a hostile non-Muslim repents—embracing Islam—before the Muslims have gained power over him, while he is still resisting, his life and property become inviolable. The ruling differs for the one who repents after being subdued: if a prisoner of war accepts Islam only after capture, his life is protected, yet protection from enslavement is not granted. Indeed, some jurists say he automatically becomes a slave, whereas others hold that the ruler is given the choice in his case. (1)
(1) Shaykh al-Islam states in al-Fatawa, 10/374: “The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘I have been commanded to fight people until they bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Once they do so, their lives and property are protected from me, except when the law of Islam requires otherwise; their ultimate reckoning is with Allah.’ Allah, exalted be He, also says: ‘Fight them until there is no more fitna (persecution) and religion belongs wholly to Allah,’ and He says: ‘Fitna is worse than killing.’
Accordingly, anyone who repents among the unbelievers, active combatants, or other flagrant sinners before we gain power over them is exempt from the punishment that is Allah’s due. Thus, if a belligerent unbeliever embraces Islam before being captured, his life, family, and property are safeguarded. The same applies to a highway robber, an adulterer, a thief, or a drinker who repents prior to arrest, for the aim of the prescribed penalties is already met through their repentance. If, however, they repent after falling into our power, not all of the penalty is waived, because that would lead to the suspension of the hudud (legal punishments) and to widespread corruption, and because such repentance cannot be fully trusted. Therefore, if…"
[الدَّلِيلُ الثَّانِي عَلَى تَحْرِيمِ قَتْلِ الكَافِرِ لمُجَرَّدِ كفْرِهِ]
وَأَيضًا: فَقَدْ دَلَّتِ النُّصُوصُ عَلَى أَنَّ مَنْ تَابَ قَبْلَ القُدْرَةِ عَلَيهِ وَهُوَ مُمتنِعٌ فَإِنَّهُ يَعْصِمُ دَمَهُ وَمَالَهُ، بِخَلافِ مَنْ تَابَ بَعْدَ القُدْرَةِ عَلَيه، فَلَو أَسْلَمَ الأَسِيرُ بَعْدَ أَسرِهِ لَعُصِمَ دَمُهُ وَلَمْ يُعْصَم اسْتِرَقَاقُهُ.
بَلْ قِيلَ: يَصِيرُ رَقِيقًا.
وَقِيلَ: يُخَيَّرُ الإِمَامُ فِيهِ (١).
(١) قال شيخ الإسلام في الفتاوى (١٠/ ٣٧٤): (كما قال ﷺ: "أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إلا الله، وأن محمدًا رسول الله، فإذا فعلوا ذلك عصموا منى دماءهم وأموالهم إلا بحقها وحسابهم على الله" وقال تعالى: ﴿وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ لِلَّهِ﴾، وقال: ﴿وَالْفِتْنَةُ أَكْبَرُ مِنَ الْقَتْلِ﴾؛ ولهذا من تاب من الكفار والمحاربين وسائر الفساق قبل القدرة عليه سقطت عنه العقوبة التي لحق لله، فإذا أسلم الحربي قبل القدرة عليه عصم دمه وأهله وماله، وكذلك قاطع الطريق والزاني والسارق والشارب إذا تابوا قبل القدرة عليهم؛ لحصول المقصود بالتوبة، وأما إذا تابوا بعد القدرة لم تسقط العقوبة كلها؛ لأن ذلك يفضي إلى تعطيل الحدود، وحصول الفساد؛ ولأن هذه التوبة غير موثوق بها؛ ولهذا إذا =