IMAM ABU AL-FIDA' ISMA'IL IBN KATH~R 309for me into a mosque, and a pure place; booty was made permissible for me while
it had not been made so for anyone before myself; I was given intercession; and
prophets were previously sent to their people, while I was sent to all mankind."'
Al-Acmash related, from Aba Sdih, from Aba Hurayra, who quoted the
Prophet (SAAS) as saying, "Booty was not made permissible to leaders other
than ourselves."
The Almighty therefore stated, "so enjoy whatever you have taken as booty,
well and legally".
And so God Almighty made it permissible to take booty and ransom for
prisoners.
Abii D2ad stated, '"Abd al-IC&mitn b. al-Mubarak alLCAbsi related to us,
quoting Sufym b. Habib, quoting Shu'ba, from Aba alLCAnbas, from Aba
al-Shacth2, from Ibn 'Abbss, that the Messenger of God (SAAS) placed a price
of 400 dirhams as ransom for the non-Muslims at Badr. This sum was in fact the
least taken for any one of them as ransom, while the largest amount taken for any
one of them was 4,000 dirhams."
God promised those who believe that there will be returned to them what was
taken from them, in this world and the next. The Almighty stated, "0 Prophet,
tell the prisoners now in your hands, 'If God knows there is good in your hearts,
He will give you better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive
you"' (siirat al-Anjil; VIII, v.70).
Al-Walibi stated, from Ibn 'Abbas: "Revelation came down about al-'AbbXs,
and he ransomed himself for 40 awqgyya of gold. And he commented, LAnd so
God did give me 40 slaves,' referring to those who worked for him in his bnsi-
ness. He went on, LAnd I hope for that forgiveness that God - most highly is He
to be praised - has promised."'
Ibu Isbaq stated, "Al-'Abb% b. 'Abd Alkh b. Ma'bad related to me, from some
of his family, from Ibn 'Abbas, who said, 'The night following the Battle of Badr,
after the prisoners had been bound, the Messenger of God (SAAS) at fvst could
not get to sleep. His Companions asked him why he could not sleep and he
replied, "I have been hearing my uncle al-'Abb% groaning in his fetters." So they
untied hi, he became silent and the Messenger of God (SAAS) went to sleep.'"
Ibn Ishaq concluded, "And he was a wealthy man, who ransomed himselfwith
100 awqgyya of gold."
My own comment is that this money was on behalf of himself, and for his
nephews 'Aqil and Nawfal, as well as for his ally, Wtba b. 'Amr, one of the Banii
ai-Harith b. Fihr, as the Messenger of God (SAAS) had told him to do when he
claimed to have accepted Islam. The Messenger of God (SAAS) commented,
"What was evident was that you were against us. God knows best about your
accepting Islam, and He will reward yon."
AILcAbb% claimed that he had no money and so he was asked, "Where is the
money that you and Umm al-Fadl buried when you told her, 'If I should be