Muslim Imam on Beheading of Journalist, Steven Sotloff (Imam Suhaib Webb)

I denounce the brutal murder of Steven Sotloff and Syrian Muslim journalist Bassam Raies two weeks ago at the hands of ISIS. My sincerest condolences to both of their families. There is no dilemma in denouncing ISIS. They are, as the Prophet (sa) said, "The worst of creation" and "The dogs of Hell."

As a journalist, he is protected by international law and covenants that are binding on those God has given authority. His mother's passionate please showed that she understands Islam better than ISIS and its leadership and many rabid folks who cloak their sicknesses with the garments of religiosity.

Here are a few narrations about this from our beloved Prophet (sa). Thanks to Shibli Zaman for sharing.

There will be terror on the Day of Judgment for those Muslims who would terrorize, rather than protect, the Jews and Christians under their jurisdiction. The Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said:

«أَلَا مَنْ ظَلَمَ مُعَاهِدًا، أَوِ انْتَقَصَهُ، أَوْ كَلَّفَهُ فَوْقَ طَاقَتِهِ، أَوْ أَخَذَ مِنْهُ شَيْئًا بِغَيْرِ طِيبِ نَفْسٍ، فَأَنَا حَجِيجُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»

“Any who shall be unjust with those non-Muslims under covenant, or violate their rights, or tax them more than they can afford, or take from them without their consent, I will be his prosecutor on the Day of Judgment!” [Abū Dawūd’s Sunan, Translation based upon al- Ābādī’s exegesis `Awn al-Ma`būd]

The narration as related in al-Bayhaqī’s Sunan al-Kubrā adds: 

«وَأَشَارَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِأُصْبُعِهِ إِلَى صَدْرِهِ: أَلَا وَمَنْ قَتَلَ مُعَاهَدًا لَهُ ذِمَّةُ اللهِ وَذِمَّةُ رَسُولِهِ حَرَّمَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ رِيحَ الْجَنَّةِ , وَإِنَّ رِيحَهَا لَتُوجَدُ مِنْ مَسِيرَةِ سَبْعِينَ خَرِيفًا»

“And the Messenger of God (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed his finger to his chest and continued: ‘And whosoever shall kill a non-Muslim under covenant —for whom there is, indeed, God’s protection and the protection of His Messenger — for such a one, God shall forbid even the scent of Paradise. Verily, they will find themselves a distance of seventy years march from even the scent of Paradise!”

Admissibility of the narration:
The Hadīth should be relied upon as an evidence for what misfortune awaits those who would be unjust or kill the protected People of the Book. There are some questions regarding some of the narrators in the chain of transmission of this Hadīth who are considered Majhūl (unknown). Nāsir al-Dīn al-Albānī authenticated it due to its numerous supporting chains of transmission (shawāhid) and as a result considered it “Sahīh li-ghayrihī” (authentic based upon supporting narrations). Similarly, Muhammad bin `Abdillāh al-Zarkashī in his al-Lālī’ al-Manthūra fi-l Ahādīth al-Mashhūra dismissed concerns over the unnamed references in the chains of transmission. `Abdul Muhsin al-`Abbād in his commentary of Abū Dawūd’s Sunan, though believing the narration to be weak in transmission, considered it reliable in its message and meaning (“Sahīh” in its “Ma`na”). It is a rare case where a Hadīth with unknown narrators is accepted by prominent scholars of Hadīth.

And God is the Omniscient, the Wise.
Suhaib Webb
Hadith and takhrij by Shibli Zaman