Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 29775 — Mutilation in killing

Ubayd bin Ta'la said: We went to the land of the Romans to fight, and Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), the Companion of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), was with us. In the time of Sayyiduna Mu'awiyah (may Allah be pleased with him), Abd al-Rahman bin Khalid bin al-Walid was the commander over the people. We were with him when a man came to him and said: Just now four non-Arab disbelievers were brought to the commander. He gave an order, and they were tied up. They were shot at with arrows until they were killed. The narrator said: Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari rose in alarm and went to Abd al-Rahman and said: Did you tie them up to be shot at? I certainly heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) forbid tying up an animal to be shot at. And I would not like to tie up even a hen to be shot at, even if I were to receive such and such wealth in return. The narrator said: So he regarded that as a grave matter. At this Abd al-Rahman called four of his slaves and set all four free in place of what he had done.