06-16-2004, 04:16 PM
Bismillah
As salam alaikum
Alhamdulillah for the answer was made easy for me to retrieve.
This incident occured after the battle of Badr. The Prophet wanted imput on what to do with the captives. He consulted Abu Bakr and Umar. Pesuaded by the pleas of the Meccan people, Abu Bakr advised, "O Prophet of Allah, you are dearer than my father and my mother. Your captives consist of men who are parents, sons, cousins, uncles, and brothers of your own people. The most removed of them is still a member of your clan and a blood relative. Be good to them and forgive them. Allah will forgive you and be good to you. Otherwise allow them to be ransomed and take from them that which would increase the Muslims in power. Perhaps, by such action, Allah will soften their hearts toward Islam."
Umar said, "O Prophet of Allah, these are the enemies of Allah. They have belied you, fought you, and banished you. Strike their necks. They are the leaders of idolatry and misguidance. By this course Allah will consolidate Islam and bring low the idolators."
Muhammad saaws followed the advice of Abu Bakr and allowed the captives to be ransomed. Then this ayah was revealed:
"It is not fitting for a prophet to have captives until He has thoroughly subdued the land. You seek the advantages of this world whereas Allah wishes you to seek the Hereafter and Allah is All-Powerful, All-Wise." (8:67).
Abridged from the "The Life of Muhammad" by Haykal