162 - Abd al-Malik al-Maymuni informed me that he said to Abu Abd Allah: "Do you know of anyone who refrained from fighting thieves out of caution against committing a sin?" He said: "No." I said: "There are people who say: 'If you encounter them, fight them, but do not strike them with the sword while intending to kill them.'" He said: "I only strike him to protect myself and my wealth from him; if he is struck down, then that is a minor matter regarding him." I said: "Yes, O Abu Abd Allah, I am aware that I may strike him with the sword, and I do not hesitate to cut off his hand or his leg, and I distract him from myself by every means possible." He said: "Yes." And I had previously asked him about going out to confront them. He said: "He is summoning you until you go out against them; they are more wicked than that." I saw that he was surprised by those who say: "I will fight him and stop him, but I do not intend his life." That is, this is not something the heart should be preoccupied with; he has the right to fight him and defend himself by any means possible, regardless of whether his (the thief's) life is taken or spared."
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