Takhrij Hadith 977: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ…"

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ dispatched a military expedition to Khath‘am. Some of the people sought safety by prostrating (to demonstrate that they were Muslims), but the soldiers killed them quickly before recognizing them. When news of this reached the Prophet ﷺ, he ordered that they be paid half the blood money, and said: "I am free from every Muslim who resides among the polytheists." They asked: "O Messenger of Allah, why?" He replied: "Their two fires should not be visible to one another."