What is the ruling on a soldier in the Egyptian army firing on peaceful protestors if he is ordered to do so, and is it permissible for him to advise his colleagues not to do that? And what is the ruling on him firing into the air with the intention of deceiving his officer, given the possibility of hitting a passerby or someone on a balcony? And is it permissible for him to fire in self-defense if objects that are not life-threatening are thrown at him, or if protestors fire ammunition at the army, or if he is personally fired upon?

It is not permissible to assault participants in peaceful demonstrations aimed at establishing justice or refuting falsehood. It is not permissible for a soldier or policeman to fire at demonstrators, even if ordered to do so, because obedience to the created being is not permissible when it involves disobedience to the Creator. Coercion in this situation is not considered valid, and he is not permitted to save himself by killing others.

However, if the demonstration is aimed at refuting a truth or establishing a falsehood, or if it involves an assault on lives, property, or honor, then confronting it is legitimate. The aggressor should be repelled with the lightest possible means, then gradually increasing.

Advising comrades among soldiers and police to do good and forbid evil is obligatory as far as possible. This obligation is waived when there is fear of significant harm.

Firing bullets into the air is permissible if it is safe from hitting anyone. If there is a possibility of hitting someone, it is not permissible to fire, for whoever points his weapon at his brother, the angels curse him. If a bullet hits someone without the intention of killing, it is accidental killing, which necessitates blood money (diyah) and expiation (kaffarah).

It is not permissible to assault anyone other than the aggressor. If it is difficult to identify who is firing among the crowds, then shooting must cease, because it is better for a servant to meet his Lord having been killed unjustly than to meet Him as an unjust killer. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, threatened the intentional killer of a believer with severe punishment.

During times of tribulation, whoever is sitting or walking is better than whoever is standing or striving in it. A Muslim in such times should be the one who is killed, not the killer.