{So when you meet those who disbelieved, strike the necks.}
Yahya reported, from al-Mas'udi, from al-Qasim ibn 'Abd al-Rahman, that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) sent an expedition to a clan, and they encountered them. A man from them climbed a tree with entangled branches. The person who was present said: "We cut it, but nothing happened; we threw [missiles] at it, but nothing happened." He said: "Then they brought fire and ignited it within it, and the man fell down dead." This reached the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and his face changed severely, then he said: "I was not sent to punish with the punishment of Allah! Rather, I was sent with the striking of necks and binding with shackles."
His saying: {Until, when you have thoroughly slaughtered them, then secure the shackles}, and this is concerning prisoners of war. {Then either favors afterwards or ransom}. At the time this verse was revealed, if they took a prisoner, they had no choice but to kill him or favor him by releasing him. This is abrogated; it was abrogated by {So if you gain dominance over them in war, disperse those behind them thereby} [al-Anfal: 57] and the rest of the verse. Thus, if the Imam (leader) wishes, he may kill the prisoner, and if he wishes, he may make him booty (enslave him), and if he wishes, he may ransom him. As for favoring him without ransom, that is not for him to do.
Muhammad said: His saying {thoroughly slaughtered them} means: you have caused many deaths among them, like His saying: {It is not for a prophet to have captives until he causes much slaughter in the land; you desire the fleeting goods of this world} [al-Anfal: 67], meaning: he exaggerates in killing.
