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Is it allowable for an Islamic nation to behead prisoners it captures in a war (like how ISIS has captured and beheaded an American)? Is there any Quranic or hadith justification for this?

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    – goldPseudo
    Commented Aug 25, 2014 at 14:44

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Well I’m not sure about the specific hadith or Qur’anic justification but IF the prisoner has committed the crime punishable by beheading then yes, the state can punish the prisoner according to its law! BUT the punishment must be from the ruling state or the proper authority (courts etc. depending upon the state law), and not from any individual who takes law in his/her own hands.

That was my personal understanding of your question and the answer is what i think is the best answer... again, I am not a Muslim scholar or Molvi. It's just my personal observation. Hope it helped.

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  • I am asking about a war prisoner who s crime is that he is from opposing \ enemy country?
    – user8305
    Commented Aug 21, 2014 at 15:23
  • So if there is an Islamic state he can be beheaded right?
    – user8305
    Commented Aug 24, 2014 at 17:03
  • Yes there are certain crimes punishable by beheading. Although only a few countries still carry out executions that way.. Saudi Arabia is one of them.
    – Abdul Jabbar
    Commented Aug 24, 2014 at 17:04
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    Please proof this with versus from the Quran!
    – Aboudi
    Commented Aug 24, 2014 at 18:00
  • As I told in the answer it's just my personal observation. If I knew the verses I would have quoted them beforehand
    – Abdul Jabbar
    Commented Aug 24, 2014 at 18:02
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بسم الله الرحمن الرحیم

In the name of Allah the merciful the compassionate

Islamic nation should act based on Islamic teachings. There is no verse or hadith explicitly allowing beheading of war prisoners. As for historical proof, we see that the prophet never beheaded any one when he conquested Mecca, although they were clearly idolaters (he only ordered to kill some of them who were murderers and criminals). In fact he was very kind to the slaves. He said:

Give them of the same food of which you eat yourselves, and provide them with the same kind of clothes as you put on yourselves. Do not force them to do jobs which are too difficult for them. Share with them their jobs and help them in the performance of them. Do not call them slaves, for all men are the bondsmen of Allah, who is the real Master of everyone. Call your male slaves young man and your female slaves young woman (1)

References

1- Men and universe by Ayatullah Murtadha Mutahhari.

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The Islamic rule is based on the "eye for an eye" concept; you can only attack those who attack you and harm those who harm you. Beheading innocent civilians is unislamic.

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    Where does it say like that eye for eye? Are there not many verses in Qur'an which say forgive it is better for you?
    – servant-of-Wiser
    Commented Mar 12, 2015 at 8:27
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In the Hanafi madhab it is not permissible to execute prisoners of war. But in the other three madhabs it is.

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    I think the OP means "beheading" not other ways of killing.
    – Mohammad Hossein
    Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 8:21
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    References would go a long way here...
    – Caleb
    Commented Jan 31, 2015 at 9:33

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