Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Imran bin Husain (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) set the ransom of two Muslims in exchange for one polytheist of Banu Aqeel.

Hazrat Salamah bin Akwa’ (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that during the time of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), we went for jihad to the region of Hawazin with Hazrat Siddiq Akbar (may Allah be pleased with him). I received a slave woman from Banu Fazarah as my share, who was a beautiful Arab lady. She was wearing an extra thick garment. When her extra clothes were removed, I brought her to Madinah. In the market, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) met us. He said: “The excellence of your father is only for Allah. Give her to me as a gift.” Hazrat Salamah says: I gifted her to you. The narrator (may Allah be pleased with him) says: The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent that slave woman to Makkah for the ransom of the Muslims who were there.

Hazrat Hasan (may Allah be pleased with him) and Hazrat Ata (may Allah be pleased with him) say that kindness should be shown to the prisoners of the polytheists by setting them free, or ransom should be taken from them.

It is narrated from Hazrat Asim bin Kulayb (may Allah be pleased with him) that: Hazrat Umar bin Abdul Aziz paid the ransom of a Muslim man, from among the Muslims, to the people of war (those of strength and power) with one hundred thousand dirhams.

Hazrat Hammad says that if a slave girl or a slave falls into the captivity of the enemy, there is no harm in ransoming them to set them free.

Hazrat Sha'bi (may Allah be pleased with him) says regarding prisoners that they should be freed either by showing kindness or by taking ransom.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that on the day of Badr, the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: What is your opinion regarding these prisoners? Then he said: None of them will be released except by taking ransom or by being killed.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote to the Muhajireen and Ansar that blood money should be given in cases of their killing, and ransom for their captives will be taken in a good manner, and reconciliation will be established among the Muslims (in their affairs).

Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: To free a Muslim prisoner from the hands of the disbelievers is more beloved to me than the jizya of the entire Arab or the whole Arabian Peninsula.