Is burning a prisoner to death Islamic? There is evidence the answer is "yes." The Qur'an commands Muslims to imitate Muhammad because he is the best example for humanity. Scholars have complied volumes of reports concerning things Muhammad reportedly said or did so that Muslims can know how to behave in innumerable situations.
With that said, the earliest and most authoritative biography of Muhammad, "Sirat al-Rasool," was written by a devout Muslim, Ibn Ishaq. This biography recounts the attack of the Muslim soldiers on a Jewish enclave known as Khaybar. On page 515, the "Sirat al-Rasool" reads as follows:
"Kinana al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew came (Tabari says "was brought"), to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, "Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?" He said "Yes". The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr Al-Awwam, "Torture him until you extract what he has." So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud."
This account also appears in the highly revered "History of the Arabs" written by at-Tabari, who also wrote a commentary on the Qur'an. Thus, ISIS can argue that burning someone to death is simply following the example of the prophet. Whether that argument is correct, I leave to Muslim scholars to determine.
With that said, the earliest and most authoritative biography of Muhammad, "Sirat al-Rasool," was written by a devout Muslim, Ibn Ishaq. This biography recounts the attack of the Muslim soldiers on a Jewish enclave known as Khaybar. On page 515, the "Sirat al-Rasool" reads as follows:
"Kinana al-Rabi, who had the custody of the treasure of Banu Nadir, was brought to the apostle who asked him about it. He denied that he knew where it was. A Jew came (Tabari says "was brought"), to the apostle and said that he had seen Kinana going round a certain ruin every morning early. When the apostle said to Kinana, "Do you know that if we find you have it I shall kill you?" He said "Yes". The apostle gave orders that the ruin was to be excavated and some of the treasure was found. When he asked him about the rest he refused to produce it, so the apostle gave orders to al-Zubayr Al-Awwam, "Torture him until you extract what he has." So he kindled a fire with flint and steel on his chest until he was nearly dead. Then the apostle delivered him to Muhammad b. Maslama and he struck off his head, in revenge for his brother Mahmud."
This account also appears in the highly revered "History of the Arabs" written by at-Tabari, who also wrote a commentary on the Qur'an. Thus, ISIS can argue that burning someone to death is simply following the example of the prophet. Whether that argument is correct, I leave to Muslim scholars to determine.
