The Life of the Prophet Muhammad by Ibn Kathir - Volume 2 of 4

306 THE LIFE OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD
looked out and saw his force to he some 300 strong, while that of the polytheists
was more than 1,000."'
He then related the hadith as above as far as the words, "and 70 of them were
killed, while 70 were taken prisoner."
And the Messenger of God (SAAS) asked the advice of Aha Bakr, 'Ali and
'Umar about them. Abti Bakr responded, "0 Messenger of God, these are your
close relatives, your tribal brothers; I think you should accept ransom from
them. What we receive from them will give us power against the unbelievers; and
God might well give them guidance so that they become allied to us."
The Messenger of God (SAAS) then asked, "Well, what do you think, 0
Wmar h. al-Khatc~h?" Wmar went on, "I replied, 'By God, I don't agree with
Aha Bakr. I think yon should hand over to me so-and-so,' referring to someone
closely related to Wmar, 'and I'll strike his neck. And if you hand 'Aqil over
to 'Ali, he can strike his neck. And if you hand over to Hamza so-and-so,
hi brother, he can strike his neck. That way God will know that we feel no
leniency towards the polytheists. These men are their chieftains, their very
leaders.'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) liked what Aha Bakr had said and did not
like my view. And so he did accept ransom from them."
The following day, Wmar said, "I went to the Prophet (SAAS) early in the
morning; he was with Aha Bakr and they were weeping. I asked, '0 Messenger
of God, tell me why you and your Companion are weeping. If I find reason to
weep, I'll do so. If not I would pretend to weep at your weeping!'
"The Messenger of God (SAAS) replied, 'I'm weeping at how you
Companions proposed to me that I accept ransom. Your punishment for doing so
was proposed to me and it was closer than this tree,' referring to a tree nearby.
"And God Almighty sent down, 'It is not proper for a prophet to take captives
before he has caused slaughter in the land. You desire the things of this world,
while God wishes for the after-life. And God is Al-Powerful, All-Wise! Were it
not decreed by God beforehand you would have suffered mightily for what you
took'" (siirat a[-Anf~l; VIII, v.67, 68).
This refers to the ransom. God then did make permissible the acceptance of
spoils. He then went on to complete the hadith.
'
Imm Ahad stated that Abti Mu$wiya related to him, quoting al-A'mash, from
'Amr b. Murra, from Whayda, from 'Ahd Allah, who said, "At the battle of
Badr, the Messenger of God (SAAS) asked, 'What do you say concerning these
prisoners?' Aha Bakr replied, '0 Messenger of God, they are your people, your
relatives. Let them live; he lenient to them. Perhaps God will forgive them."'
'Abd All& went on, "Wmar said, '0 Messenger of God, they exiled you and
called you a liar. Bring them close and strike their necks!'
"'Abd Allah h. Raw*a suggested, '0 Messenger of God, find a valley with
many trees, make them enter it, then set it on fire around them!"'