O Muhammad, forbid corruption.’ Then Allah revealed:

‘Whatever palm trees you cut down or left standing on their roots was by Allah’s permission, so that He might disgrace the defiantly disobedient.’”

The scholars have agreed that cutting down trees and destroying developed property is permissible when necessary. This is no graver than taking lives, and no other course was possible. It was only when the trees were cut down that all these people came out from their hiding places and abandoned hope of remaining on the mountain. Otherwise, they would hide where they could not be found. Nor was it possible for others to settle on the mountain: the Turkomans sought only pasture, which had now become available to them, while the other farmers would not abandon the cultivation of their own lands and come there. Praise be to Allah, who facilitated this victory during the Sultan’s reign, through his zeal, determination and command, as well as the clearing of the mountain of these people and their expulsion from their homes.

They resemble those whom Allah described in His words:

“He is the One who expelled those who disbelieved among the People of the Scripture from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think they would leave, and they thought their fortresses would protect them from Allah. But Allah came upon them from where they had not expected and 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.”

“Had Allah not decreed exile for them, He would have punished them in this world; and in the Hereafter they will suffer the punishment of the Fire.”

“That is because they opposed Allah and His Messenger. And whoever opposes