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

IMAM ABU AL-FIDE ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 345
to take flight was Khalid b. al-Alam al-Khuza'i - or a1 Wqayli - an ally of the
Banii Makhziim. But that did not benefit him since he was captured. It was he
who spoke the verse:
"It is not on our heels that our wounds bleed, but on
our feet the blwd drips down."
He was not truthful in this!
The first prisoners taken were Wqba b. Abn Mu'ag and al-Nadr b. al-Harith.
They were taken from the rest of the prisoners and killed stoically before the
Messenger of God (SAAS). There are two different versions regarding which of
them was killed first.
The Messenger of God (SAAS) released a group of prisoners without charge
or ransom. These included Abn alLCAs b. al-Rabic al-Umawi, al-Mut~lib b.
Hunmb b. al-Hzrith al-Makhziimi and Sayfi b. Abn Rifa'a, as told above, Abii
'Azza al-Sha'ir, Wahb b. 'Umayr b. Wahb al-Jumahi, as told above. The rest he
required to be ransomed, even including his uncle alLCAbb%, and he took more
kom him than from all the rest in order to give him no preferential treatment for
being his uncle. He did this even though the Helpers who had captured him
asked him to forgo the ransom for hi, a request he refused. He insisted, "Don't
let him off a single dirham!"
The ransom levied was variable. The least taken was 400 dirhams; for some 40
amgiya of gold was taken. Mnsa b. Wqba stated, "400 awqiya of gold was taken
from al-Abbas."
Some were employed in labour to the value of their ransom; as the Imam
Ahmad stated, quoting 'Ali h. 'Asim, quoting 'Da'iid from 'Ikrima, who quoted
Ibn 'Abbas, as having said, "Some of the prisoners taken at Badr had no ransom
money available, so the Messenger of God (SAAS) had some of them work off
their ransom by teaching the children of the Helpers to write. One day a child
came in tears to his mother who asked him what was the matter. He replied, 'My
teacher hit me!' She commented, 'The lout! He's seeking blood-revenge for
Badr! But, by God, he'll never get it!"'
Ahad is alone in giving this, but it accords with the criteria for traditions.
This subject has been fully referenced above; and to God goes all praise and credit.
Chapter: On the excellence of those Muslims who mere present at Badr.
Al-Bukhzri stated on this subject, "'Abd All& b. Muhammad related to us,
quoting Muswiya b. 'Amr, quoting Abii Ishaq, from Humayd, who said, 'I
heard Anas say, "Haritha was struck down at Badr and his mother went to the
Messenger of God (SAAS) and said, '0 Messenger of God, you know how much
H%ritha meant to me. If he be in heaven, I will be stoic and resigned; but if it be
the other place, then tell me what I ought to do.' He replied, 'Woe unto you
if you feel bereaved! Is heaven just one garden? It consists of many; he is in the
garden of paradise."""