{ For your Lord has made known to the angels: Indeed I am with you, so affirm those who have believed; I shall cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike over the necks and strike off all their fingertips } Al-anfal 12

Regarding His word: { So strike over the necks } there are two viewpoints; the first is that what is over the neck is the head, and this was a command to eliminate the head from the body; the second is that His word: { So strike over the necks } means simply “So strike the necks”. Then He says: { And strike off all their fingertips } , meaning the tips of the hands and feet. Then a difference in opinion arose; some said that the intended meaning is for them to strike them however they wish, since what is above the neck is the head, and this is the most honorable of the bodily members, while “fingertips” is an expression for the weakest members; mentioning the most honorable and the most dishonorable is indicative of all of the members. Some said that rather the intended meaning is either killing, that is, striking what is above the neck, or cutting off the fingertips, since the fingers are the tools used to take hold of swords, spears, and other weapons, and if their fingertips are cut off they are prevented from combat.