b. al-Aswad, Aba Qays b. al-Fxkih, Abn Qays b. al-Walid b. al-Mughira, CAli b.
Umayya b. Khalaf, and al-'As b. Munabbih b. al-Hajjaj.
Ibn Ish2q stated, "It was regarding them that the Almighty revealed, 'Those
whom the angels made to die were unjust to themselves. They say, "What were
your circumstances?" They will reply, "We were powerless on earth." They
shall ask them, "Was God's earth not spacious enough for you to move away
elsewhere?" Those persons shall have hell as their abode, and bad will be their
fate'" (s8rat al-Nisa'; IV, v.97).
The prisoners taken at Badr that day totalled 70 and discussion relating to
them will follow, if God wills it. These included some members of the family of
the Messenger of God (SAAS), that is, his uncle al-'Abb% b. 'Abd al-Mutplib,
his cousin 'Aqil b. Aba Tdib, and Nawfal b. al-Hzrith b. 'Abd al-Mu~alib.
Al-Sh@i, al-Bukhari and others have used this as evidence in support of the
view that not everyone who possesses a relative is obliged to set him free. They
use this to refute the hadith of al-Hasan, from Ibn Samra regarding this. But God
knows best.
Abn alLCAs b. al-Rabic b. 'Abd Shams b. Umayya, the husband of Zaynab,
daughter of the Prophet (SAAS) was one of those prisoners.The Companions differed over what to do with the prisoners taken at Badr.
There were two views - that they should be killed, or that they should be freed
in return for ransom.
As 1- Alynad stated, "CAli b. 'Asi related to us, from Humayd, from Anas,
and from another man mentioned, from al-Uasan, who said, 'The Messenger of
God (SAAS) sought the advice of his men concerning what to do with the
prisoners taken at Badr. He told them, 'God has placed them in your power."'
He went on, "Wmar arose and said, '0 Messenger of God, strike their necks!'
The Messenger of God (SAAS) turned away from him.
"He then again asked them the same question. Abn Bakr arose and said, '0
Messenger of God, we consider you should pardon them and accept ransom for
them.'
"At this the unhappiness on the face of the Messenger of God (SAAS) dis-
appeared; he did pardon them and accepted ransom for them.
"And God Almighty revealed the words, 'Were it not decreed by God before-
hand you would have suffered mightily"' (%rat al-Anfal; VIII, v.68). Ahmad
alone quoted this tradition.
He also related - and the following wording is his - as did Muslim, Abn
Dx'od and al-Timidhi, stating it to be authentic, as did 'Ali b. al-Madini, who
also affirmed its authenticity, from a hadith of 'lkrima b. 'Ammxr, as follows,
"Simak al-Hanafi Abn Zumayl related to us, quoting Ibn CAbbs, quoting Wmar
b. al-Kha~xb, who said, 'At the battle of Badr, the Messenger of God (SAAS)