and the two mean the same thing. He also said:

“Whoever is an enemy to Allah, His angels, His messengers, Gabriel and Michael” [al-Baqarah: 98].

He thus mentioned Gabriel and Michael again, although they are among the angels, to emphasize their importance. He also said:

“In both are fruit, date palms and pomegranates” [al-Rahmān: 68].

Dates and pomegranates are kinds of fruit. Such examples are numerous. Success comes only from Allah.

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Whoever terrorizes travelers on the roads is, by consensus, a brigand. For this reason, Mālik, may Allah have mercy on him, said that the ruler has a choice concerning a brigand, even if he has neither killed anyone nor taken any property: if he wishes, he may put him to death; if he wishes, he may crucify him; if he wishes, he may have his hand and foot cut off on opposite sides; and if he wishes, he may flog and banish him. This is because Allah gave a choice between these four punishments for a brigand, saying:

“That they be put to death, crucified, have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides, or be banished from the land” [al-Mā’idah: 33].

Whenever Allah says to do this or that, the person concerned may choose whichever of those acts he wishes. An example is His saying, exalted is He:

“Then a compensation of fasting, charity or sacrifice” [al-Baqarah: 196].

Another is His saying concerning expiation for broken oaths:

“Its expiation is to feed ten needy people with food of the average quality you feed your own families, or to clothe them, or to free a slave” [al-Mā’idah: 89].

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There is disagreement concerning those about whom this verse was revealed. One view is that it was revealed concerning polytheists at war with the Muslims. According to this verse, the ruler therefore has a choice concerning polytheist captives: if he wishes, he may put them to death; if he wishes, he may crucify them; and if he wishes, he may have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides.

Another view is that it was revealed concerning a group from the People of the Book who had a treaty and covenant with the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, but broke the treaty and spread corruption in the land. Allah therefore gave His Messenger the choice: if he wished, he could put them to death; if he wished, he could crucify them; if he wished, he could have their hands and feet cut off on opposite sides; and if he wished, he could banish them. This was reported from Ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him. It has also been said that it