1 The Virtues of Surah Al-Ma'idah; When It was Revealed Surah to ...

This Ayah is clear in its indication that it applies
to the idolators.
As for the Muslims who commit this crime and
repent before they are apprehended, the
punishment of killing, crucifixion and cutting the
limbs will be waved. The practice of the
Companions in this regard is that all of the
punishments prescribed in this case will be
waved, as is apparent from the wording of the
Ayah.
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ash-Sha`bi said,
"Harithah bin Badr At-Tamimi was living in Al-
Basra, and he committed the crime of mischief in
the land. So he talked to some men from
Quraysh, such as Al-Hasan bin Ali, Ibn Abbas and
Abdullah bin Jafar, and they talked to Ali about
him so that he would grant him safety, but Ali
refused.
So Harithah went to Sa`id bin Qays Al-Hamadani
who kept him in his house and went to Ali,
saying, `O Leader of the Faithful! What about
those who wage war against Allah and His
Messenger and cause mischief in the land' So he
إِلا َّ ال َّذِينَ‏ تَابُواْ‏ مِن reached, recited the Ayah until he
(Except for those who (having قَبْلِ‏ أَن تَقْدِرُواْ‏ عَلَيْهِمْ‏
fled away and them) came back (as Muslims) with
repentance before they fall into your power).
So Ali wrote a document that granted safety, and
Sa`id bin Qays said, `This is for Harithah bin
Badr.'''
Ibn Jarir recorded this Hadith.
Ibn Jarir recorded that `Amir Ash-Sha`bi said,
"A man from Murad came to Abu Musa, while he
was the governor of Al-Kufah during the reign of
Uthman, and said to him after he offered the
obligatory prayer, `O Abu Musa! I seek your help.
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