142 - Harb ibn Isma'il al-Kirmani informed me, saying: I asked Abu 'Abd Allah and said: 'We have fortresses on the edge of the desert where Muslims stand guard (ribat) against the enemy, and they (the enemy) are the Kurds. They (the Kurds) are people of monotheism and they pray, but they commit highway robbery. So what is your view on standing guard (ribat) in this location?' He considered it commendable and said: 'How excellent this is!' I said: 'They are of the people of the Qibla (Muslims).' He said: 'Even if they are of the people of the Qibla, does this not repel them from the Muslims?' He said: I asked Ahmad another time and said: 'There is a location of ribat called Babanidh in the desert, where volunteers (al-muttawwi'a) reside and escort caravans, while the enemy are the Kurds, and they are Muslims.' He deemed that desirable and approved of it, saying: 'Do they not defend the Muslims?' However, he said: 'As long as there is no fighting.' I said: 'They sometimes escort caravans, and the Kurds attack them.' He said: 'If they intend to take them and their wealth, they should fight them.'