187 - Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Abd al-Hamid informed me, saying: Bakr ibn Muhammad narrated to us, from his father, from Abu Abd Allah [Ahmad ibn Hanbal], that he heard him speak regarding fighting against thieves. He said: "I hold the view that a man should defend his property and fight [for it]." He said: "Is it not narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: 'Whoever is killed while defending his property is a martyr'?" He then said: "However, if the thief turns to flee, he should not pursue him." I said: "Is the thief not a muharib (one who wages war against society)?" He replied: "You do not know whether he killed [anyone] or not. As for a well-known, notorious thief who is known to have killed and broken the unity of the Muslims, he is a muharib, and the Imam may do with him whatever he wishes." He added: "I do not hold the view of fighting them during a period of civil strife (fitna) when there is no Imam; for this is a fitna in which weapons should not be carried."
١٨٧ - أَخْبَرَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ، قَالَ: ثَنَا بَكْرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَهُ يَقُولُ فِي قِتَالِ اللُّصُوصِ، قَالَ: أَرَى أَنْ يَدْفَعَ الرَّجُلُ عَنْ مَالِهِ وَيُقَاتِلَ، قَالَ: أَلَا يُرْوَى عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: مَنْ قَاتَلَ دُونَ مَالِهِ فَقُتِلَ فَهُوَ شَهِيدٌ. قَالَ: وَلَكِنْ إِذَا وَلَّى اللِّصُّ لَا يَتَّبِعُهُ، قُلْتُ: أَلَيْسَ اللِّصُّ مُحَارِبًا؟ قَالَ: أَنْتَ ⦗١٨١⦘ لَا تَدْرِي قَتَلَ أَمْ لَا، فَأَمَّا إِذَا كَانَ لِصٌّ مَعْرُوفٌ مَشْهُورٌ أَنَّهُ قَدْ قَتَلَ، وَشَقَّ عَصَا الْمُسْلِمِينَ فَهُوَ مُحَارِبٌ، يَفْعَلُ بِهِ الْإِمَامُ مَا أَحَبَّ، قَالَ: وَلَا أَرَى قِتَالَهُمْ فِي الْفِتْنَةِ إِذَا لَمْ يَكُنْ إِمَامٌ، فَهَذِهِ فِتْنَةٌ لَا يُحْمَلُ فِيهَا سِلَاحٌ
