I asked Abu Hanifa about killing women, children, and elderly who are not able to fight, as well as those with chronic illness who are unable to withstand fighting. He prohibited and was averse to it. I asked about killing monks, those who live in hermitages, and those who wear sashes around the waist. He felt that killing them was fine, and was adverse to sparing them. And I asked about someone who takes a man prisoner from the enemy – should he kill him or bring him to the leader [imam]? He said: Either of those is fine for him to do. But Abu Yusuf and Muhammad said: He should do whatever of that is better for the Muslims. … And I asked about Muslims seeking aid from non-Muslims [ahl al-shirk, Idolaters] against the people they are at war with [ahl al-harb]; he said: There is no problem with that, as long as the decrees of Islam are forceful and victorious.