How do we reconcile the legal principle (if the enemy takes Muslims as a shield, it is permissible to kill them in order to reach the enemy) with your statement: stay in your homes?

The questioner : Regarding the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) of the Gulf, there is currently a legal principle that states: "If the enemy takes Muslims as a shield, it is permissible to kill the Muslims in order to reach the disbelievers." How do we compare this statement with your saying: "Stay in your homes, we do not direct our weapons at the Arabs who are currently gathered"?

The Shaykh : Because there is no jihad (struggle in the path of Allah) now; now it is a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). Based on the fact that this is a time of fitnah, I think you are convinced with us that this is a time of fitnah, and you are not convinced?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So, looking at what we believe, that our time is a time of fitnah, in times of fitnah he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: As for what you mentioned just now, that is in the context of jihad, when we are in jihad and the Islamic banner is raised, and you want to fight the disbelievers, and then these disbelievers take some Muslims as a shield, and these Muslims, instead of joining the mujahideen rightfully, are living with the disbelievers. It is not permissible for them in the first place to live with the disbelievers, because Islam obligates one who was a disbeliever and then embraced Islam to migrate from the land of disbelief to the land of Islam. So their remaining in the land of disbelief is first an Islamic error, and then allowing themselves to be a shield for the disbelievers who are fighting the Muslims is another error.

The questioner : And if it was against their will?

The Shaykh : You forgot the first premise. Why did they not migrate?

The questioner : If they were prisoners of war and it was a second round?

The Shaykh : Good, so the first answer is that this is in the context of jihad.