The Ruling on Fighting Highway Robbers

Question:
Another questioner asks: If I travel on a road and find enemies on it who are cutting off the road and taking people's money, should I give them my money or fight them? And if I kill them, or if they kill me, what is the ruling in Islam?

Answer:
So a man said to him, "O Messenger of Allah, a man comes wanting my money." He said, "Do not give him your money." He said, "What if he fights me?" He said, "Fight him." He said, "What if I kill him?" He said, "He is in the Fire." He said, "What if he kills me?" He said, "Then you are a martyr." This is in a narration of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), narrated by Muslim in the Sahih. So you have the choice: if you fight him, and if he refuses to fight, you may fight him, and do not give him your money. And if you want to ransom yourself with your money, and give him what is enough to stop him from fighting you, there is no harm in that. The soul is more precious than wealth. But if you fight him, there is no harm in that. And if you kill him, he is in the Fire, we seek refuge in Allah, and his blood is treachery. And if you are killed, you are a martyr, because you were wronged. And if you want to distract him with some of your money, then you raise the matter to the authorities after that, there is no harm in that and no blame. The meaning is that it is not obligatory to fight. If you fight him, there is no blame. And if you leave him and his greed, and give him some of what satisfies him so that you preserve your soul and your blood, there is no harm in that. Then you raise the matter of him after that.