he may do so; but if he does not deem it beneficial, he should not. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cut down the vineyards of the people of Taʾif, and this led to their embracing Islam. During the war against Banū al-Naḍīr, he ordered that a particular kind of date palm, called al-Aṣfar, be cut down. Its pits could be seen through its bark, and a palm of this kind was dearer to them than a young servant.
A number of authorities, including al-Marwazī, transmitted from Aḥmad that he said: “If they do it to us, we will do it to them.” He also said: “I would not adopt that view unless they do that to us.” He prohibited initiating such action, but permitted it in response to them. Al-Athram transmitted from him: “I dislike it, unless doing so enrages them and causes them harm.” Al-Maymūnī said: Abū ʿAbd Allāh was asked, “Which is more common: burning in Byzantine lands or refraining from burning?” He replied: “Burning is more common and more firmly established.” The apparent meaning of this is that it is permissible when it causes them harm.
It is permissible to drain their water sources and cut off their water supply, even if women and children are among them, because this is more effective in overcoming them. If one of them who is suffering from thirst asks for water, the commander may choose either to give it to him or to withhold it, just as he may choose either to kill him or to spare him. Whoever among them is killed should be buried out of sight, and there is no obligation to shroud him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered that those slain at Badr be cast into the well.
It is not permissible to burn anyone with fire, whether alive or dead, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Do not punish Allah’s servants with Allah’s punishment.” Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, nevertheless burned some of the apostates. Any Muslim killed as a martyr is wrapped in the clothes in which he was killed and buried in them, without being washed. There are two narrations regarding offering the funeral prayer over him.
The army is not to be prevented from eating their food or using fodder for their animals during that war, without this being counted against them. However, they must not go beyond food and fodder to anything else, such as clothing or mounts. If necessity compels them