Anfal 67-69
67- IT IS NOT FOR A PROPHET TO HAVE PRISONERS OF WAR UNTIL HE SHEDS BLOOD ON EARTH, YOU SEEK THE TEMPORARY PLEASURES OF THE LOWER LIFE, BUT ALLAH DESIRES THE HEREAFTER FOR YOU, FOR ALLAH IS MOST EXALTED IN POWER AND MOST WISE.
68- IF IT WAS NOT DECREED OTHERWISE BEFOREHAND, YOU WOULD HAVE SUFFERED A GREAT PUNISHMENT BECAUSE OF WHAT YOU TOOK (OF RANSOM)
69- THEREFORE, EAT OUT OF WHAT YOU GAINED IN BATTLE, HALAL AND PURE, BE PIOUS AND GUARD YOURSELVES FROM ALLAH’S DISPLEASURE, FOR ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST COMPASSIONATE.
In the battle of Badr, the Muslims took 70 prisoners one of them was Al-Abas, the paternal uncle of Mohamed prayer and peace upon him. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him consulted with the Muslims as to what they should do with the prisoners of war, Abu Bakr suggested taking ransom and to let them go free. Omar Ibn El-Khatab advised that they, or at least the heads, should be executed.
We should remember that many of the disbelievers were blood relations and old friends of the migrant Muslims. Also the migrants who left their property behind were not well off financially, therefore taking ransom would help them. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him decided to take the ransom and let the prisoners of war go free.
These Ayahs were sent down, commanding him to execute the heads of the disbelievers and in the mean time allowing him to take the ransom for the other prisoners.
When Omar Ibn El-Khatab heard about these Ayahs being sent down, he went to see Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him, to find him with Abu Bakr sitting with him, and they were both crying.
Whenever a fighter killed another in battle, he would take his personal possessions, such as sword, armour, and any other personal possession. If taken prisoner, then he may take his ransom, or if women or children taken as prisoners, they may be ransomed too.
The ransom used to be around ten camels or more depending on the wealth and status of the prisoner. Some of the prisoners who could not afford the ransom were let free without having to pay a ransom but after they promised not to fight the Muslims again. Therefore, most men were worth more alive than dead. Some of the disbelievers who did not have money but could read and write; their ransom was to teach ten Muslims to read and write.
Mohamed prayer and peace upon him wanted to be lenient with the disbelievers who hurt and persecuted him as well as the the Muslims in Makah and killed some, tortured some, and imprisoned others. Allah the Highest made Kindness and Compassion two of his main characters.
I should mention that the spoils of war were not permitted for the prophets and messengers before Mohamed prayer and peace upon him to take, but it was permitted for him and for his nation as per the Quran. Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him said: “I have been permitted to take the spoils of war which were not permitted for the prophets before me”.
Anfal 70-71
70- O PROPHET, SAY TO THE PRISONERS IN YOUR HANDS: “IF ALLAH KNOWS THAT THERE IS GOODNESS IN YOUR HEARTS, HE WILL GIVE YOU MORE THAN WHAT WAS TAKEN FROM YOU, FORGIVE YOU, FOR ALLAH IS MOST FORGIVING AND MOST MERCIFUL”.
71- BUT IF THEY WANT TO BETRAY YOU, THEY HAVE BETRAYED ALLAH BEFOREHAND, BUT ALLAH MADE YOU HAVE POWER AND CONTROL OVER THEM, FOR ALLAH IS ALL KNOWING AND ALL WISE.
Al-Abas, Allah’s messenger paternal uncle was who was taken prisoner in the battle of Badr was in fact a Muslim. He kept his Islam secret and did not migrate to Medina; and only his wife in Makah knew about His Islam. He went out with two of his nephews with the army of the disbelievers from Makah, and also with one of his allies. He carried with him twenty ounces of gold, which were taken from him when he was captured.
After Al-Abas told Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him about his Islam, he insisted that Al-Abas his uncle should pay ransom for himself, his two nephews and his ally, as he was a wealthy man. The twenty ounces of gold were also taken as spoils of war.
Allah the Highest is telling him and others that if what they say are true and they have faith in their hearts, Allah the Highest will replace what was taken from them with what better. Allah the Highest gives the believers their rewards from Him, which is infinitely better and also, gives them in this life so that they and others may see and feel Allah’s recompense the believers in order to encourage others to do the same. Al-Abas said that Allah the Highest replaced his twenty ounces of gold with twenty slaves who were experienced tradesmen trading with his money.
Some prisoners asked Allah’s messenger prayer and peace upon him to let them go to their homes in Makah to collect their own ransom. Allah the Highest said that they betrayed their Lord by not believing, therefore, they are going to betray His messenger prayer and peace upon him and not fulfil their promise to him. Mohamed prayer and peace upon him refused their request.
Allah the Highest is telling us that we should not grief for what we may lose in the cause of Allah the Highest, for it will be all replaced generously in this life and we will be recompensed for it in the Hereafter, as well as Allah’s Mercy and Forgiveness, which we all need. Allah the Highest never lets the believers down, and never lets their efforts and sacrifices go in vain.
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