Topic: Taking Of
View Aspects
مَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ٱلْءَاخِرَةَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ
اس سے یہ مرادنہیں کہ نبی خون ریزی کرے۔ کیوں کہ اس کے خلاف قرآن میں تعلیم پائی جاتی ہے اس آیت کاصرف یہ مطلب ہے کہ دشمنوں کے حملوں کے نتیجہ میں وہ خونریزی پر مجبور ہو جائے۔ تو پھر قیدی بنائے۔ ورنہ نہیں غرض زیادہ زور اس بات پر ہے کہ بغیر خون ریز جنگ کے قیدی پکڑنے ناجائز ہیں دو قوموں میں شدید جنگ ہو تو اس کے بعد قیدی پکڑنے جائز ہو سکتے ہیں۔
47:5.
4:95.
The verse lays down the general rule that captives should not be taken unless there is regular fighting and the enemy is completely overpowered. It cuts at the root of slavery. Only those, who take part in war in order to destroy Islam and are defeated, can be made prisoner. See also {2739}.
47:5.
4:95.
Important Words:
اسری (captives) is the plural of اسیر (a captive) which is derived from اسر. They say اسره i.e. he bound or tied him, or he made him a captive or took him a prisoner. اسیر means, one shackled or imprisoned; a captive (Lane).
یثخن (he engages in a regular fighting) is derived from ثخن (thakhuna) or ثخن (thakhana) which means, it was thick or coarse or hard. اثخنه means, he rendered it thick; or he rendered him heavy or languid or enervated; or he overcame him and inflicted many wounds on him. اثخن فی العدو means, he made a great slaughter or a great wounding among the enemy. اثخن فی الارض means, he made much slaughter in the earth or the land; or he fought vehemently in the earth (Lane). The expression حتی یثخن فی الارض would thus mean, till he (the Prophet) has had a regular fighting in the land, inflicting wounds on the enemy.
Commentary:
It was a practice among pre-Islamic Arabs (and it is regrettable that the practice still continues in some parts of the world) to take men captives even if there was no war and no fighting, and then to make them slaves. The verse abolishes this evil custom and lays down in clear words that it is only in war and after regular fighting that enemy combatants can be taken prisoner and that it is not lawful to take any person captive when there is no war and there has been no fighting.
The verse has been very wrongly interpreted. It is said that when the Muslims took some men of the Meccan army captives at Badr, the Holy Prophet took counsel with his Companions as to what should be done with them. ‘Umar suggested that they should be put to death, while Abu Bakr proposed that they should be released after accepting ransom from them. The Holy
Prophet accepted the suggestion of Abu Bakr and the prisoners were released for ransom. But it is alleged that by revealing this verse, God expressed His disapproval of the Holy Prophet’s action, declaring that the captives ought to have been put to death and no ransom should have been taken for them. This interpretation, however, is obviously wrong; firstly, because God had so far sent down no commandment forbidding the release of prisoners for ransom, and, therefore, He could not reprove the Holy Prophet for accepting ransom; secondly, because the Holy Prophet had already accepted ransom for two persons taken captive at Nakhlah prior to the Battle of Badr, and God had not disapproved of this action of his; thirdly, because only two verses later God permits Muslims to eat of that which you have won in war as lawful and good (8:70). It is simply inconceivable that God should have reproved the Holy Prophet for having accepted ransom and then at the same time declared the money so taken to be lawful and good. This interpretation is, therefore, obviously wrong and the verse is only intended to lay down a general rule that captives should not be taken until there has been regular fighting and the enemy has been overpowered by the infliction of wounds.
b
47:5.
c
4:95.
552
这节经文制定了一个总的规则: 只能在正式战争中, 在敌人彻底打垮时, 才能俘虏敌人。这根除了奴隶制。只有参加意欲消灭伊斯兰教的战争而被打败的那些人可作战俘。读注释1258。
1
اس سے یہ مرادنہیں کہ نبی خون ریزی کرے۔ کیوں کہ اس کے خلاف قرآن میں تعلیم پائی جاتی ہے اس آیت کاصرف یہ مطلب ہے کہ دشمنوں کے حملوں کے نتیجہ میں وہ خونریزی پر مجبور ہو جائے۔ تو پھر قیدی بنائے۔ ورنہ نہیں غرض زیادہ زور اس بات پر ہے کہ بغیر خون ریز جنگ کے قیدی پکڑنے ناجائز ہیں دو قوموں میں شدید جنگ ہو تو اس کے بعد قیدی پکڑنے جائز ہو سکتے ہیں۔
a
47:5.
b
4:95.
1155
Important Words:
اسری (captives) is the plural of اسیر (a captive) which is derived from اسر. They say اسره i.e. he bound or tied him, or he made him a captive or took him a prisoner. اسیر means, one shackled or imprisoned; a captive (Lane).
یثخن (he engages in a regular fighting) is derived from ثخن (thakhuna) or ثخن (thakhana) which means, it was thick or coarse or hard. اثخنه means, he rendered it thick; or he rendered him heavy or languid or enervated; or he overcame him and inflicted many wounds on him. اثخن فی العدو means, he made a great slaughter or a great wounding among the enemy. اثخن فی الارض means, he made much slaughter in the earth or the land; or he fought vehemently in the earth (Lane). The expression حتی یثخن فی الارض would thus mean, till he (the Prophet) has had a regular fighting in the land, inflicting wounds on the enemy.
Commentary:
It was a practice among pre-Islamic Arabs (and it is regrettable that the practice still continues in some parts of the world) to take men captives even if there was no war and no fighting, and then to make them slaves. The verse abolishes this evil custom and lays down in clear words that it is only in war and after regular fighting that enemy combatants can be taken prisoner and that it is not lawful to take any person captive when there is no war and there has been no fighting.
The verse has been very wrongly interpreted. It is said that when the Muslims took some men of the Meccan army captives at Badr, the Holy Prophet took counsel with his Companions as to what should be done with them. ‘Umar suggested that they should be put to death, while Abu Bakr proposed that they should be released after accepting ransom from them. The Holy
Prophet accepted the suggestion of Abu Bakr and the prisoners were released for ransom. But it is alleged that by revealing this verse, God expressed His disapproval of the Holy Prophet’s action, declaring that the captives ought to have been put to death and no ransom should have been taken for them. This interpretation, however, is obviously wrong; firstly, because God had so far sent down no commandment forbidding the release of prisoners for ransom, and, therefore, He could not reprove the Holy Prophet for accepting ransom; secondly, because the Holy Prophet had already accepted ransom for two persons taken captive at Nakhlah prior to the Battle of Badr, and God had not disapproved of this action of his; thirdly, because only two verses later God permits Muslims to eat of that which you have won in war as lawful and good (8:70). It is simply inconceivable that God should have reproved the Holy Prophet for having accepted ransom and then at the same time declared the money so taken to be lawful and good. This interpretation is, therefore, obviously wrong and the verse is only intended to lay down a general rule that captives should not be taken until there has been regular fighting and the enemy has been overpowered by the infliction of wounds.
a
47:5.
b
4:95.
1144
The verse lays down the general rule that captives should not be taken unless there is regular fighting and the enemy is completely overpowered. It cuts at the root of slavery. Only those, who take part in war in order to destroy Islam and are defeated, can be made prisoner. See also {2739}.
لَّوْلَا كِتَٰبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ سَبَقَ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِيمَآ أَخَذْتُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
یعنی پہلے سے فدیہ لینا جائز قرار دیا جا چکا ہے اس لئے جو مفسر لکھتے ہیں کہ فدیہ لینے کی وجہ سے اللہ تعالیٰ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم پر خفا ہوا‘ وہ سخت غلطی پر ہیں۔ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے وہی کام کیا جس کا خداتعالیٰ نے آپ کو حکم دیا تھا۔
The words refer to the Divine promise of help (8:8-10).
Ransoming of captives was already in vogue. What is emphasized here is that prisoners could only be taken in regular fighting in the course of war.
Commentary:
In the previous verse it was said that Muslims should not be hasty in taking captives from among the enemy. The verse under comment hints that kindness should be shown to prisoners and that they should be treated with mercy. The verse says that it is only through the assistance of God, which He had ordained for Muslims, that they have gained an easy victory and obtained much booty, and that if it had not been for the help which God had promised them beforehand, they would not have obtained the booty without being severely handled by the enemy and suffering great loss at his hands. The words, a decree from Allah which had gone before, obviously refer to the Word of God which had already conveyed the promise of help to the Holy Prophet (see 8:6 above). The words "great distress" thus signify distress caused by the enemy and not affliction from God. The verse purports to say that when by the help of God the Muslims have gained so easy a victory, they should feel grateful for it and should show kindness to the prisoners who have fallen into their hands.
2
یعنی پہلے سے فدیہ لینا جائز قرار دیا جا چکا ہے اس لئے جو مفسر لکھتے ہیں کہ فدیہ لینے کی وجہ سے اللہ تعالیٰ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم پر خفا ہوا‘ وہ سخت غلطی پر ہیں۔ رسول کریم صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے وہی کام کیا جس کا خداتعالیٰ نے آپ کو حکم دیا تھا۔
1156
Commentary:
In the previous verse it was said that Muslims should not be hasty in taking captives from among the enemy. The verse under comment hints that kindness should be shown to prisoners and that they should be treated with mercy. The verse says that it is only through the assistance of God, which He had ordained for Muslims, that they have gained an easy victory and obtained much booty, and that if it had not been for the help which God had promised them beforehand, they would not have obtained the booty without being severely handled by the enemy and suffering great loss at his hands. The words, a decree from Allah which had gone before, obviously refer to the Word of God which had already conveyed the promise of help to the Holy Prophet (see 8:6 above). The words "great distress" thus signify distress caused by the enemy and not affliction from God. The verse purports to say that when by the help of God the Muslims have gained so easy a victory, they should feel grateful for it and should show kindness to the prisoners who have fallen into their hands.
1145
The words refer to the Divine promise of help (8:8-10).
1145A
Ransoming of captives was already in vogue. What is emphasized here is that prisoners could only be taken in regular fighting in the course of war.
فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فَضَرْبَ ٱلرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا۟ ٱلْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّۢا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَآءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ ٱلْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَآءُ ٱللَّهُ لَٱنتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَٰلَهُمْ
8:46, 68.
这节经文概括地制定了几条有关战争的道德和战争行为的重要准则, 且顺便地大力攻击奴隶制度。简单说来, 这些准则就是: (1) 当穆斯林进行正规战争保卫自己的信仰、荣誉、生命和财产的时候, 他们有责任英勇而无情地战斗 (8:13-17)。(2) 一旦战争开始, 就应该将战争一直进行到建立和平并确保良心的自由为止 (8:40)。(3) 俘虏敌人只有在正规战和阵地战中敌人绝对战败之后。因此, 打正规战才有理由抓俘虏;此外没有理由剥夺自由人的自由。(4) 战争结束后可以作为开恩而释放俘虏, 或索取战俘的赎金或磋商交换战俘。不能永久关押战俘或当奴隶使用。在巴努•穆斯塔利克 (بَنُوْمُصْطَلِق, Banu Mustaliq) 和哈瓦津 (هَوَازِن, Hawazin) 两宗族吃败仗之后, 穆圣释放了一百户巴努•穆斯塔利克和几千名哈瓦津战俘。白德尔战役之后同意了战俘交纳赎金, 而那些无力交纳赎金却有文化的战俘必须教穆斯林读书写字。因此这节经文十分有效地打击了奴隶制的根子, 并永远、完全地废除了奴隶制。
安拉让信者和不信者进行战争, 这样, 一方面, 信者的优良品质有机会发挥, 另一方面可以暴露不信者的不良品质。穆圣的伙伴们的道德优越性也许在人生的哪一方面都没有像他们对待战败的敌人时所表示的那么清楚。
بعض لوگ ان آیات پر اعتراض کرتے ہیں۔ حالانکہ آج بھی دنیا میں جنگیں ہو رہی ہیں اور ہر جنگ میں بالمقابل سپاہی دشمن کی گردن ہی کاٹتا ہے۔ اگر کہو کہ پھر ذکر کیوں کیا۔ تو اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ اسلام نے نرمی کی اس قدر تعلیم دی ہے کہ خوف تھا کہ اگر یہ آیت نازل نہ ہوتی‘ تو مسلمان جنگ میں دشمن کو قتل کرنا ناجائز سمجھتے۔
8:46, 68.
Athkhana fil Ardi means, he caused much slaughter in the land.
The verse, in a nutshell, lays down some important rules about the ethics of war and its conduct and incidentally deals a deathblow to slavery. Briefly, these are: (a) When they are engaged in regular battle in defence of their faith, honour, lives or property, Muslims are enjoined to fight bravely and relentlessly (8:13-17). (b) When war is once started, it should continue till peace is established and freedom of conscience secured (8:40). (c) Prisoners are to be taken from the enemy only after regular and pitched battle has been fought, and the enemy is decidedly and positively beaten. Thus regular war is declared to be the only reason for taking prisoners; for no other reason free men can be deprived of their liberty. (d) When war is over, prisoners should be released, either as an act of favour, or on taking ransom from them or by negotiating mutual exchange. They should not be held permanently in captivity or treated as slaves. The Holy Prophet set at liberty about a hundred families of Bani Mustaliq
Allah got the believers engaged in fighting with disbelievers so that on the one hand their own good qualities of character should have an opportunity to come into play, and on the other, the bad qualities of disbelievers should become exposed. Perhaps in no other aspect of life was the moral superiority of the Companions of the Holy Prophet so clearly demonstrated as in their treatment of their fallen foes.
The sacrifice of Muslims slain in the field of battle will not be wasted. In fact, it was their sacrifice that firmly laid the foundation of Islam in Arabia.
8:46, 68.
Important Words:
أثخنتموھم (you have overcome them). أثخن is transitive from ثخن (thakhuna or thakhana) which means, it was or became thick or coarse. أثخنه means, he rendered him heavy or languid or enervated; or he overcame him after inflicting many wounds on him. أثخن فی العدو means, he made a great slaughter among the enemy or inflicted heavy wounds upon him. أثخن فی الارض means, he caused much slaughter in the land; or he fought vehemently in the land (Lane & Aqrab).
انتصر منھم (He would have punished them) is derived from نصر. They say نصرہ اللّٰه علی عدوہ i.e. God helped, aided or assisted him against his enemy or made him victorious. انتصر means, he defended himself against his injurer. انتصر منه means, he exacted his right or due completely from him; he avenged himself upon him; he punished him (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
The verse, in a nutshell, lays down some important rules about the ethics of war and its conduct and incidentally deals a death blow to slavery. Briefly these are: (a) When they are engaged in regular battle in the defence of their faith, honour, lives or property, the Muslims are enjoined to fight bravely and relentlessly, giving no quarter, and expecting none from the enemy; and not to flee from the field of battle under lame or weak excuses. They must either win or die. "He who turns his back to the enemy", says the Quran, "draws upon himself the wrath of Allah" (8:13-17). (b) When war is once started, it should continue till peace is established and freedom of conscience secured (8:40). (c) Prisoners are to be taken from the enemy, only after regular and pitched battle has been fought, and the enemy is decidedly and positively beaten. Thus regular war is declared to be the only reason for taking prisoners for no other cause free men are to be deprived of their liberty. (d) When war is over, prisoners should be released, either as an act of favour, or on taking ransom or by negotiating mutual exchange. They should not be held permanently in captivity or treated as slaves. The Holy Prophet carried this Divine commandment into actual practice by setting at liberty about a hundred families of Banu Mustaliq and several thousand prisoners of Hawazin after both these tribes had been decisively beaten in battle. It was after the Battle of Badr that ransom was accepted for the prisoners who were set free. This was perhaps, because Islam was then in a very weak state. But, on this occasion too, those of them who could not pay their ransom in money but were literate, were required to teach reading and writing to some of the Muslims. The verse thus has struck very effectively at the roots of slavery, abolishing it completely and forever. (Muir, Zurqani & Hisham).
The words "And if Allah had so pleased, he could have punished them Himself, but He has willed that He may try some of you by others," signify that God possessed the power to punish the enemies of Truth without the instrumentality of Muslims but He got the latter engaged in fighting with disbelievers so that on the one hand their own good qualities of character should have an opportunity to come into play and on the other the bad qualities of disbelievers should become exposed. Perhaps in no other aspect of life was the moral superiority of the Companions of the Holy Prophet so clearly demonstrated as in their treatment of their fallen foes.
The words "And those who are killed in the way of Allah—He will never render their works vain," mean that the sacrifice of Muslims slain in the field of battle would not be wasted. It was their sacrifice that firmly laid the foundation of a bright future for Islam.
c
8:46, 68.
1258
这节经文概括地制定了几条有关战争的道德和战争行为的重要准则, 且顺便地大力攻击奴隶制度。简单说来, 这些准则就是: (1) 当穆斯林进行正规战争保卫自己的信仰、荣誉、生命和财产的时候, 他们有责任英勇而无情地战斗 (8:13-17)。(2) 一旦战争开始, 就应该将战争一直进行到建立和平并确保良心的自由为止 (8:40)。(3) 俘虏敌人只有在正规战和阵地战中敌人绝对战败之后。因此, 打正规战才有理由抓俘虏;此外没有理由剥夺自由人的自由。(4) 战争结束后可以作为开恩而释放俘虏, 或索取战俘的赎金或磋商交换战俘。不能永久关押战俘或当奴隶使用。在巴努•穆斯塔利克 (بَنُوْمُصْطَلِق, Banu Mustaliq) 和哈瓦津 (هَوَازِن, Hawazin) 两宗族吃败仗之后, 穆圣释放了一百户巴努•穆斯塔利克和几千名哈瓦津战俘。白德尔战役之后同意了战俘交纳赎金, 而那些无力交纳赎金却有文化的战俘必须教穆斯林读书写字。因此这节经文十分有效地打击了奴隶制的根子, 并永远、完全地废除了奴隶制。
1259
安拉让信者和不信者进行战争, 这样, 一方面, 信者的优良品质有机会发挥, 另一方面可以暴露不信者的不良品质。穆圣的伙伴们的道德优越性也许在人生的哪一方面都没有像他们对待战败的敌人时所表示的那么清楚。
1
بعض لوگ ان آیات پر اعتراض کرتے ہیں۔ حالانکہ آج بھی دنیا میں جنگیں ہو رہی ہیں اور ہر جنگ میں بالمقابل سپاہی دشمن کی گردن ہی کاٹتا ہے۔ اگر کہو کہ پھر ذکر کیوں کیا۔ تو اس کا جواب یہ ہے کہ اسلام نے نرمی کی اس قدر تعلیم دی ہے کہ خوف تھا کہ اگر یہ آیت نازل نہ ہوتی‘ تو مسلمان جنگ میں دشمن کو قتل کرنا ناجائز سمجھتے۔
a
8:46, 68.
3791
Important Words:
أثخنتموھم (you have overcome them). أثخن is transitive from ثخن (thakhuna or thakhana) which means, it was or became thick or coarse. أثخنه means, he rendered him heavy or languid or enervated; or he overcame him after inflicting many wounds on him. أثخن فی العدو means, he made a great slaughter among the enemy or inflicted heavy wounds upon him. أثخن فی الارض means, he caused much slaughter in the land; or he fought vehemently in the land (Lane & Aqrab).
انتصر منھم (He would have punished them) is derived from نصر. They say نصرہ اللّٰه علی عدوہ i.e. God helped, aided or assisted him against his enemy or made him victorious. انتصر means, he defended himself against his injurer. انتصر منه means, he exacted his right or due completely from him; he avenged himself upon him; he punished him (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
The verse, in a nutshell, lays down some important rules about the ethics of war and its conduct and incidentally deals a death blow to slavery. Briefly these are: (a) When they are engaged in regular battle in the defence of their faith, honour, lives or property, the Muslims are enjoined to fight bravely and relentlessly, giving no quarter, and expecting none from the enemy; and not to flee from the field of battle under lame or weak excuses. They must either win or die. "He who turns his back to the enemy", says the Quran, "draws upon himself the wrath of Allah" (8:13-17). (b) When war is once started, it should continue till peace is established and freedom of conscience secured (8:40). (c) Prisoners are to be taken from the enemy, only after regular and pitched battle has been fought, and the enemy is decidedly and positively beaten. Thus regular war is declared to be the only reason for taking prisoners for no other cause free men are to be deprived of their liberty. (d) When war is over, prisoners should be released, either as an act of favour, or on taking ransom or by negotiating mutual exchange. They should not be held permanently in captivity or treated as slaves. The Holy Prophet carried this Divine commandment into actual practice by setting at liberty about a hundred families of Banu Mustaliq and several thousand prisoners of Hawazin after both these tribes had been decisively beaten in battle. It was after the Battle of Badr that ransom was accepted for the prisoners who were set free. This was perhaps, because Islam was then in a very weak state. But, on this occasion too, those of them who could not pay their ransom in money but were literate, were required to teach reading and writing to some of the Muslims. The verse thus has struck very effectively at the roots of slavery, abolishing it completely and forever. (Muir, Zurqani & Hisham).
The words "And if Allah had so pleased, he could have punished them Himself, but He has willed that He may try some of you by others," signify that God possessed the power to punish the enemies of Truth without the instrumentality of Muslims but He got the latter engaged in fighting with disbelievers so that on the one hand their own good qualities of character should have an opportunity to come into play and on the other the bad qualities of disbelievers should become exposed. Perhaps in no other aspect of life was the moral superiority of the Companions of the Holy Prophet so clearly demonstrated as in their treatment of their fallen foes.
The words "And those who are killed in the way of Allah—He will never render their works vain," mean that the sacrifice of Muslims slain in the field of battle would not be wasted. It was their sacrifice that firmly laid the foundation of a bright future for Islam.
c
8:46, 68.
2738
Athkhana fil Ardi means, he caused much slaughter in the land.
2739
The verse, in a nutshell, lays down some important rules about the ethics of war and its conduct and incidentally deals a deathblow to slavery. Briefly, these are: (a) When they are engaged in regular battle in defence of their faith, honour, lives or property, Muslims are enjoined to fight bravely and relentlessly (8:13-17). (b) When war is once started, it should continue till peace is established and freedom of conscience secured (8:40). (c) Prisoners are to be taken from the enemy only after regular and pitched battle has been fought, and the enemy is decidedly and positively beaten. Thus regular war is declared to be the only reason for taking prisoners; for no other reason free men can be deprived of their liberty. (d) When war is over, prisoners should be released, either as an act of favour, or on taking ransom from them or by negotiating mutual exchange. They should not be held permanently in captivity or treated as slaves. The Holy Prophet set at liberty about a hundred families of Bani Mustaliq
2740
Allah got the believers engaged in fighting with disbelievers so that on the one hand their own good qualities of character should have an opportunity to come into play, and on the other, the bad qualities of disbelievers should become exposed. Perhaps in no other aspect of life was the moral superiority of the Companions of the Holy Prophet so clearly demonstrated as in their treatment of their fallen foes.
2741
The sacrifice of Muslims slain in the field of battle will not be wasted. In fact, it was their sacrifice that firmly laid the foundation of Islam in Arabia.