In Sahīh Muslim, Hafsah reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“A people lacking defensive strength, numbers, and equipment will seek refuge in this House—meaning the Kaaba. An army will be sent against them at that time, and when they reach an open plain, the earth will swallow them up.”

Yūsuf ibn Māhik said, “At that time, the people of Syria were marching towards Mecca.” ‘Abd Allāh ibn Safwān said, “By Allah, it is not this army.”

Allah Most High thus destroyed the army that intended to violate what He had made sacred—including both those compelled to join it and those who were not—despite His ability to distinguish between them, though He will resurrect them according to their intentions. How, then, can the believers engaged in jihad be required to distinguish between those acting under compulsion and others, when they have no knowledge of this? Indeed, even if someone claimed that he had gone out under compulsion, his mere claim would not avail him. As it is reported:

“When the Muslims captured al-‘Abbās ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib on the day of Badr, he said to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I was compelled.’ He replied, ‘Outwardly, you were against us; as for what was in your heart, that is for Allah to judge.’”

Indeed, even if there were righteous people among them, among the best of people, and fighting them were impossible without killing these righteous people, they too would be killed. For the imams agree that if the disbelievers used Muslims as shields, and harm to the Muslims were feared if the disbelievers were not fought, it would be permissible to shoot at them while aiming at the disbelievers. Even if there were no fear for the Muslims, shooting at those Muslims would still be permissible according to one of the two scholarly opinions. And whoever is killed for the sake of the jihad that