وَعَنْ جَرِيرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ
قَالَ: بَعَثَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَرِيَّةً إِلَى خَثْعَمَ فَاعْتَصَمَ نَاسٌ مِنْهُمْ بِالسُّجُودِ فَأَسْرَعَ فِيهِمُ الْقَتْلَ فَبَلَغَ ذَلِكَ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُمْ بِنِصْفِ الْعَقْلِ وَقَالَ: «أَنَا بَرِيءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ مُقِيمٍ بَيْنَ أَظْهُرِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ» قَالُوا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لِمَ؟ قَالَ: «لَا تَتَرَاءَى نَارَاهُمَا»
Jarir ibn ‘Abdillah told that when God’s Messenger sent an expedition to Khatham some of them sought God’s protection by having recourse to prostration* and were quickly killed. When the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) heard that, he ordered half the blood wit to be paid for them, saying, ‘I am not responsible for any Muslim who stays among polytheists.’
On being asked why that was, he replied, ‘Their fires should not be visible to one another.’ Abu Dawud transmitted it. * Some members of Khatham who were Muslims prostrated themselves in prayer to God thinking that this would make it clear to the attackers that they were Muslims.’