It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allah 's enemies] in the land. Some Muslims desire the commodities of this world, but Allah desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.
"Li-l-nabī" (للنبي): Read with the definite article.
"Usārā" (أسارى): Plural of asīr (captive).
"Yuthkhina" (يثخن): Read with the tashdīd (doubling of the letter kha).
Meaning of Ithkhān: Excessive killing and exaggeration in it. It is derived from the saying, "The wounds athkhanathu (rendered him heavy/immobile)," meaning they pinned him down so that movement became difficult for him. Similarly, "Sickness athkhanahu" means it weighed him down, derived from thakhāna (thickness/density). The intent is to humble disbelief and weaken it by spreading slaughter among its people, and to honor Islam and strengthen it through conquest and subjugation. Captivity comes only after that.
Context of the Verse:
"Mā kāna" (ما كان): It was not correct or appropriate for him. This occurred on the day of Badr. When the Muslims became numerous, the verse "Then either grace afterwards or ransom" (Muhammad: 4) was revealed.
The Consultation: It is narrated that seventy captives were brought to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), including his uncle al-Abbas and Aqil ibn Abi Talib. He consulted Abu Bakr (ra), who said: "They are your kin and people; keep them, perhaps Allah will accept their repentance, and take a ransom from them to strengthen your companions." Umar (ra) said: "They belied you and expelled you, so bring them forward and strike their necks. These are the leaders of disbelief. Allah has made you independent of the ransom. Give Ali power over Aqil, Hamza over al-Abbas, and me over so-and-so (a relative of his), so that we may strike their necks."
The Prophet’s Response: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Allah softens the hearts of some men until they are softer than milk, and He hardens the hearts of others until they are harder than stone. Your likeness, O Abu Bakr, is like Abraham, who said: 'Whoever follows me is of me, and whoever disobeys me—indeed, You are Forgiving, Merciful' (Ibrahim: 36). And your likeness, O Umar, is like Noah, who said: 'My Lord, do not leave upon the earth any inhabitant among the disbelievers' (Nuh: 26)." He then said to his companions: "You are today in need, so let no one escape except by ransom or by having his neck struck."
The Ransom:
It is narrated that he gave them the choice: "If you wish, kill them; if you wish, ransom them, and an equal number of you will be martyred." They chose the ransom. They were later martyred at Uhud. The ransom for captives was twenty uqiyas, and for al-Abbas, forty uqiyas. Muhammad ibn Sirin said: The ransom was one hundred uqiyas (an uqiya being forty dirhams and six dinars).
The Revelation:
When they took the ransom, this verse was revealed. Umar entered upon the Prophet (ﷺ) and found him and Abu Bakr weeping. He asked, "O Messenger of Allah, tell me; if I find a reason to weep, I will weep, and if not, I will feign weeping." He replied: "I weep for your companions taking the ransom. Their punishment was presented to me closer than this tree"—pointing to a nearby tree. It is narrated he said: "If a punishment had descended from the sky, none would have been saved except Umar and Sa'd ibn Mu'adh (ra)," because he had said that ithkhān (slaughter) was more beloved to him.
Exegesis of the Verse:
"The goods of the world" (عرض الدنيا): Its debris. It is called arad because it is an event that does not last long. He means the ransom.
"And Allah wants the Hereafter": Meaning that which is a cause for Paradise, such as honoring Islam through ithkhān in killing.
"And Allah is Exalted in Might": He overcomes His allies over His enemies, enabling them to kill and capture, and He permits them the ransom.
"And Wise": He delays that until they become numerous and strong, while they are in haste.
"Had it not been for a decree from Allah that preceded": Had it not been for a judgment from Him already established in the Preserved Tablet—that He does not punish anyone for a mistake. This was a mistake in ijtihad (legal reasoning), for they considered that keeping them might lead to their Islam and repentance, and that the ransom would strengthen them for Jihad. It was hidden from them that killing them was more honorable for Islam, more awe-inspiring to those behind them, and more effective in breaking their power. It is also said: His decree was that He would make lawful for them the ransom they took. It is also said: The people of Badr are forgiven. It is also said: He does not punish a people until the proof is confirmed and a prohibition is issued, and no prohibition had preceded this.
"So eat of what you have taken of war booty": It is narrated that they refrained from the spoils and did not stretch their hands toward them, so this was revealed. It is also said: It is a permission for the ransom, as it is part of the spoils.
"And fear Allah": Do not proceed with anything for which you have no command.
"So eat of what you have taken of war booty as lawful and good, and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful."
