Surah Al-Anfaal (8) — Ayah 67

(Ayah 67){مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ لَهٗۤ اَسْرٰى …:} It is not permissible for any Prophet to take captives, then keep them imprisoned or show kindness or take ransom, until after there has been much bloodshed in the battlefield and the backbone of disbelief has been broken and they are no longer able to fight back. After that, there is no harm in taking captives. But O Muslims! You acted hastily in taking captives at Badr; you desired the goods of this world in the form of ransom, while Allah intended for you the reward of the Hereafter through the exaltation of Allah’s word. And Allah is dominant over all, full of wisdom; your action was not in accordance with honor and wisdom. Elsewhere He said: «فَاِذَا لَقِيْتُمُ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتّٰۤى اِذَاۤ اَثْخَنْتُمُوْهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ » [ محمد : ۴ ] “So when you meet those who disbelieve, strike their necks until, when you have thoroughly subdued them, then bind them firmly.”
In the 2nd year of Hijrah, after the haste in taking captives at the Battle of Badr, the second mistake was that the decision regarding the captives, according to the circumstances of that time, was not pleasing to Allah. Because at that time, killing them instead of taking ransom would have further broken the backbone of disbelief, so Allah expressed displeasure towards all Muslims including the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) narrates that (in the Battle of Badr) when the captives were taken, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) consulted Abu Bakr and Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) regarding what should be done with the captives. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “O Prophet of Allah! These are our cousins and our own people, so my opinion is that ransom should be taken from them, so that (with this money) we may gain strength against the disbelievers, and perhaps Allah may guide them to Islam.” The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “O Ibn Khattab! What is your opinion?” Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “I said, O Messenger of Allah! My opinion is not the same as Abu Bakr’s. My opinion is that you hand them over to us so that we may strike their necks. Hand over Aqil to Ali so that he may strike his neck, and hand over so-and-so to me so that I may strike his neck, because these people are the leaders and chiefs of disbelief.” (Most of the Muslims agreed with Abu Bakr’s opinion, some due to financial benefit and some due to human and familial affection.) The Prophet (peace be upon him) accepted Abu Bakr’s opinion and did not accept mine. Then, when the next morning came, I came and saw that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) were sitting and weeping. I said, O Messenger of Allah! Tell me why you and your companion are weeping, so that if I feel like weeping, I may also weep, or at least I may make a weeping face because of your weeping. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “I am weeping because of the decision your companions advised regarding taking ransom from the captives, now their punishment has been presented before me, which was closer than this tree.” And there was a tree near him. And Allah revealed these verses: «مَا كَانَ لِنَبِيٍّ اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ لَهٗۤ اَسْرٰى حَتّٰى يُثْخِنَ فِي الْاَرْضِ» [ الأنفال : ۶۷] [مسلم، الجہاد، باب الإمداد بالملائکۃ فی غزوۃ بدر … : ۱۷۶۳ ] Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said that Jibreel (peace be upon him) descended and said to the Prophet (peace be upon him) to give your companions the choice regarding the captives of Badr: either kill them or take ransom, on the condition that in the future, the same number of your men will be killed. They chose to take ransom and the future martyrdom of their men. [ ترمذی، السیر، باب ما جاء فی قتل الأساری و الفداء : ۱۵۶۷ وقال الألبانی صحیح ] Since this was not the better option, Allah expressed displeasure over it.