Al-Siyasa al-Shar'iyya - Ibn Taimiya - (الكتاب/114)

If, however, they join the territory of a faction that has rebelled against Islamic law and assist them against the Muslims, they are to be fought in the same manner as that faction.

As for one who does not block the road but exacts protection money or a levy from travelers—on each person, animal, load, or the like—he is a trafficker (1) and an extortionate tax collector, and is subject to the punishment imposed on such tax collectors.

The jurists have differed over whether it is permissible to kill him. He is not considered a highway robber, since he does not render the road impassable. Nevertheless, he is among those who will suffer the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said concerning the woman of Ghāmid: “She has repented so sincerely that, had an extortionate tax collector repented in the same manner, he would have been forgiven” (2).

By consensus of the Muslims, those who are being wronged (3) and whose property is being sought may fight the armed brigands. They are not required to surrender any property to them (4) if they are able to fight them. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever is killed defending his property is a martyr; whoever is killed defending his life is a martyr; whoever is killed defending his religion is a martyr; and whoever is killed defending his family’s honor is a martyr” (5).

(1) Manuscripts (Z, L) read: “a defrauder.” (2) Reported by Muslim (1695) from Burayda ibn al-Husayb, may Allah be pleased with him. (3) Manuscripts (F, Z, B) read: “those being pursued.” (4) The other manuscripts read “neither little nor much” instead of “anything.” (5) Reported in abbreviated form by Ahmad (1652), Abū Dāwūd (4772), al-Tirmidhī (1421), al-Nasā’ī (4094), and Ibn Mājah (2580), from Sa‘īd ibn Zayd, may Allah be pleased with him. Al-Tirmidhī said: “This is a sound, authentic hadith.” The first sentence is also reported by al-Bukhārī (2480) and Muslim (141), from ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Amr, may Allah be pleased with him and his father.

فأما إذا تحيَّزوا إلى مملكةِ طائفةٍ خارجةٍ على شريعة الإسلام وأعانوهم على المسلمين= قُوتِلوا كقتالهم. وأما من كان لا يقطع الطريق لكنه يأخذ خفارة أو ضريبة من أبناء السبيل على الرؤوس والدواب والأحمال ونحو ذلك؛ فهذا نخَّاس (١) مكَّاس عليه عقوبة المكاسين. وقد اختلف الفقهاء في جواز قتله، وليس هو من قُطَّاع الطريق، فإن الطريق لا تنقطع به، مع أنه من أشدِّ الناس عذابًا يوم القيامة، حتى قال النبي ﷺ في الغامدية: «لقد تابت توبةً لو تابها صاحب مكس لغُفِر له» (٢). ويجوز للمظلومين (٣) الذين تُراد أموالهم قتال المحاربين بإجماع المسلمين، ولا يجب أن يُبْذل لهم من المال شيءٌ (٤) إذا أمكن قتالُهم، قال النبي ﷺ: «من قُتِل دون ماله فهو شهيد، ومَن قتل دون دمه فهو شهيد، ومَن قتل دون دينه فهو شهيد، ومَن قتل دون حرمته فهو شهيد» (٥).

(١) (ز، ل): «بخاس». (٢) أخرجه مسلم (١٦٩٥) من حديث بريدة بن الحصيب ﵁. (٣) (ف، ز، ب): «للمطلوبين». (٤) بقية النسخ بدلا من «شيء»: «لا قليل ولا كثير». (٥) أخرجه أحمد (١٦٥٢)، وأبو داود (٤٧٧٢)، والترمذي (١٤٢١)، والنَّسَائي (٤٠٩٤)، وابن ماجه (٢٥٨٠) مختصرًا من حديث سعيد بن زيد ﵁. قال الترمذي: حديث حسن صحيح. والجملة الأولى في البخاري (٢٤٨٠)، ومسلم (١٤١) من حديث عبد الله بن عمرو ﵄.