Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Adi Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates: Once the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sitting among the people when a man came to him and sought permission to speak to him in private. He spoke to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in a whisper, asking if he could kill a man who belonged to the hypocrites. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked aloud: "Does he not testify that there is no god but Allah?" The man replied: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), but his testimony is of no value." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: "Does he not testify that I am the Messenger of Allah?" He replied: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), but his testimony is of no value." The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked: "Does he not perform prayer?" He replied: "Yes, he does, but his prayer is of no value." The Prophet (peace be upon him) then said: "These are the people whom I have been forbidden (to kill)."