[Machine] The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded him to lead a military expedition, so he went out with it. He said, "If you find so-and-so, then burn him with fire." So he (the narrator) turned around, but then he (the Messenger) called him back. He said, "If you find so-and-so, then kill him, but do not burn him, for only the Lord of the Fire punishes with fire." As for the hadith of Usamah ibn Zaid, where the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded him to set fire to the enemy's children, it is not inconsistent with what we have said, as it only pertains to fighting against the polytheists who were unyielding. And as for what has been narrated regarding the use of siege engines against the people of Ta'if, it is not contrary to what we have stated, as it only applies to fighting against the polytheists who were resistant. Ash-Shafi'i, may Allah have mercy on him, likened it to hunting, as long as they are resisting. Then there is a prohibition against throwing a chicken, which is not resistant. And with Allah is the success.  

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللهِ ﷺ أَمَّرَهُ عَلَى سَرِيَّةٍ قَالَ فَخَرَجْتُ فِيهَا وَقَالَ إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فُلَانًا فَأَحْرِقُوهُ بِالنَّارِ فَوَلَّيْتُ فَنَادَانِي فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَيْهِ فَقَالَ إِنْ وَجَدْتُمْ فُلَانًا فَاقْتُلُوهُ وَلَا تَحْرِقُوهُ؛ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُعَذِّبُ بِالنَّارِ إِلَّا رَبُّ النَّارِ وَأَمَّا حَدِيثُ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ حَيْثُ أَمَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَنْ يَحْرِقَ عَلَى أُبْنَى وَمَا رُوِيَ فِي نَصْبِ الْمَنْجَنِيقِ عَلَى الطَّائِفِ فَغَيْرُ مُخَالِفٍ لِمَا قُلْنَا إِنَّمَا هُوَ فِي قِتَالِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ مَا كَانُوا مُمْتَنِعِينَ وَمَا رُوِيَ مِنَ النَّهْيِ فِي الْمُشْرِكِينَ إِذَا كَانُوا مَأْسُورِينَ وَشَبَّهَهُ الشَّافِعِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ بِرَمْيِ الصَّيْدِ مَا دَامَ عَلَى الِامْتِنَاعِ ثُمَّ النَّهْيِ عَنْ رَمْيِ الدَّجَاجَةِ الَّتِي لَيْسَتْ بِمُمْتَنِعَةٍ وَبِاللهِ التَّوْفِيقُ