Tafsir

Pagan Prisoners at Badr were promised better than what They lost, if They become Righteous in the Future

Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that `Abdullah bin `Abbas said that before the battle of Badr, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«إِنِّي قَدْ عَرَفْتُ أَنَّ أُنَاسًا مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ وَغَيْرِهِمْ قَدْ أُخْرِجُوا كَرْهًا لَا حَاجَةَ لَهُمْ بِقِتَالِنَا فَمَنْ لَقِيَ مِنْكُمْ أَحَدًا مِنْهُمْ أَيْ مِنْ بَنِي هَاشِمٍ فَلَا يَقْتُلْهُ، وَمَنْ لَقِيَ أَبَا الْبُخْتَرِي بْنَ هِشَامٍ مُسْتَكرِهًا»(I have come to know that some people from Bani Hashim and others were forced to accompany the pagans, although they had no desire to fight us. Therefore, whoever meets any of them (Bani Hashim), do not kill him. Whoever meets Abu Al-Bukhtari bin Hisham, should not kill him. Whoever meets Al-`Abbas bin `Abdul-Muttalib, let him not kill him, for he was forced to come (with the pagan army).) Abu Hudhayfah bin `Utbah said, "Shall we kill our fathers, children, brothers and tribesmen (from Quraysh), and leave Al-`Abbas By Allah!

If I meet him, I will kill him with the sword." When this reached the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he said to `Umar bin Al-Khattab,«يَا أَبَا حَفْص»(O Abu Hafs!), and `Umar said, "By Allah that was the first time that the Messenger of Allah called me Abu Hafs."«أَيُضْرَبُ وَجْهُ عَمِّ رَسُولِ اللهِ بِالسَّيْف»(Will the face of the Messenger of Allahs's uncle be struck with the sword) `Umar said, "O Allah's Messenger! Give me permission to cut off his neck (meaning Abu Hudhayfah) for he has fallen into hypocrisy, by Allah!" Ever since that happened, Abu Hudhayfah used to say, "By Allah! I do not feel safe from this statement coming back to haunt me, and I will continue to fear its repercussions, unless Allah, the Exalted, forgives me for it through martyrdom." Abu Hudhayfah was martyred during the battle of Al-Yamamah, may Allah be pleased with him.

Ibn `Abbas said, "On the eve after Badr, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ spent the first part of the night awake, while the prisoners were bound. His Companions said to him, `O Allah's Messenger! Why do you not sleep' Al-`Abbas had been captured by a man from Al-Ansar, and the Messenger of Allah said to them,«سَمِعْتُ أَنِينَ عَمِّي الْعَبَّاسِ فِي وِثَاقِهِ فَأَطْلِقُوه»(I heard the cries of pain from my uncle Al-`Abbas, because of his shackles, so untie him.) When his uncle stopped crying from pain, Allah's Messenger went to sleep." In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded a Hadith from Musa bin `Uqbah who said that Ibn Shihab said that Anas bin Malik said that some men from Al-Ansar said to the Messenger of Allah , "O Allah's Messenger! Give us permission and we will set free our maternal cousin Al-`Abbas without taking ransom from him." He said,«لَا وَاللهِ لَا تَذَرُونَ مِنْهُ دِرْهَمًا»(No, by Allah!

Do not leave any Dirham of it.) And from Yunus Bikkir, from Muhammad bin Ishaq, from Yazid bin Ruwman, from `Urwah, from Az-Zuhri that several people said to him, "The Quraysh sent to the Messenger of Allah concerning ransoming their prisoners, and each tribe paid what was required for their prisoners. Al-`Abbas said, `O Allah's Messenger! I became a Muslims before.' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«اللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِسْلَامِكَ فَإِنْ يَكُنْ كَمَا تَقُولُ فَإِنَّ اللهُ يُجْزِيكَ وَأَمَّا ظَاهِرُكَ فَقَدْ كَانَ عَلَيْنَا فَافْتَدِ نَفْسَكَ وَابْنَي أَخِيكَ نَوْفَلَ بْنَ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَبْدِالْمُطَّلِبِ وَعَقِيلَ بْنَ أَبِي طَالِبِ بْنِ عَبْدِالْمُطَّلِبِ ، وَحَلِيفَكَ عُتْبَةَ بْنَ عَمْرٍو أَخِي بَنِي الْحَارِثِ بْنِ فِهْر»(Allah knows if you are Muslim! If what you are claiming is true, then Allah will compensate you. As for your outward appearance, it was against us.

Therefore, ransom yourself, as well as, your nephews Nawfal bin Al-Harith bin `Abdul-Muttalib and `Aqil bin Abu Talib bin `Abdul-Muttalib, and also your ally `Utbah bin `Amr, from Bani Al-Harith bin Fihr.) Al-`Abbas said, `I do not have that (money), O Allah's Messenger!' The Messenger ﷺ said,«فَأَيْنَ الْمَالُ الَّذِي دَفَنْتَهُ أَنْتَ وَأُمُّ الْفَضْلِ فَقُلْتَ لَهَا: إِنْ أَصَبْتُ فِي سَفَرِي هَذَا، فَهَذَا الْمَالُ الَّذِي دَفَنْتُهُ لِبَنِي الْفَضْلِ وَعَبْدِاللهِ وَقُثَمٍ؟»(What about the wealth that you and Umm Al-Fadl buried, and you said to her, `If I am killed in this battle, then this money that I buried is for my children Al-Fadl, `Abdullah and Quthm) Al-`Abbas said, `By Allah, O Allah's Messenger! I know that you are Allah's Messenger, for this is a thing that none except Umm Al-Fadl and I knew. However, O Allah's Messenger!

Could you count towards my ransom the twenty Uwqiyah (pertaining to a weight) that you took from me (in the battle)' The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«لَا ذَاكَ شَيْءٌ أَعْطَانَا اللهُ تَعَالَى مِنْك»(No, for that was money that Allah made as war spoils for us from you).

So Al-`Abbas ransomed himself, his two nephews and an ally, and Allah revealed this verse,يَـأَيُّهَا النَّبِىُّ قُل لِّمَن فِى أَيْدِيكُم مِّنَ الاٌّسْرَى إِن يَعْلَمِ اللَّهُ فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ خَيْراً يُؤْتِكُمْ خَيْراً مِّمَّآ أُخِذَ مِنكُمْ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ(O Prophet! Say to the captives that are in your hands: "If Allah knows any good in your hearts, He will give you something better than what has been taken from you, and He will forgive you, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.") 8:70 Al-`Abbas commented, `After I became Muslim, Allah gave me twenty servants in place of the twenty Uwqiyah I lost. And I hope for Allah's forgiveness."Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded, that Anas bin Malik said, "The Prophet was brought some wealth from Bahrain and said;«انْثُرُوهُ فِي مَسجِدِي»(Distribute it in my Masjid) and it was the biggest amount of goods Allah's Messenger ﷺ had ever received. He left for prayer and did not even look at the goods. After finishing the prayer, he sat by those goods and gave some of it to everybody he saw.

Al-`Abbas came to him and said, `O Allah's Messenger! give me (something) too, because I gave ransom for myself and `Aqil. ' Allah's Messenger ﷺ told him to take. So he stuffed his garment with it and tried to carry it away but he failed to do so. He said, `Order someone to help me in lifting it.' The Prophet refused. He then said to the Prophet , `Will you please help me to lift it' Allah's Messenger ﷺ refused. Then Al-`Abbas dropped some of it and lifted it on his shoulders and went away. Allah's Messenger ﷺ kept on watching him till he disappeared from his sight and was astonished at his greediness. Allah's Messenger ﷺ did not get up until the last coin was distributed." Al-Bukhari also collected this Hadith in several places of his Sahih with an abridged chain, in a manner indicating his approral of it.

Allah said,وَإِن يُرِيدُواْ خِيَانَتَكَ فَقَدْ خَانُواْ اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ(But if they intend to betray you, they indeed betrayed Allah before) meaning,وَإِن يُرِيدُواْ خِيَانَتَكَ(But if they intend to betray you) in contradiction to what they declare to you by words.فَقَدْ خَانُواْ اللَّهَ مِن قَبْلُ(they indeed betrayed Allah before), the battle of Badr by committing disbelief in Him,فَأَمْكَنَ مِنْهُمْ(So He gave (you) power over them), causing them to be captured in Badr,وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ(And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.)He is Ever Aware of his actions and All-Wise in what He decides.

Commentary

The prisoners taken in the battle of Badr were released against ransom. These were sworn enemies of Islam and Muslims who had left nothing undone when it came to harassing, torturing, beating and killing them, anytime, anywhere. The slightest opportunity on hand would make them inflict their savagery on them. Now that they were prisoners in the hands of Muslims, granting them a lease of life was no mean feat. In fact, it was much more than adequate for them, virtually touching the outside limits of kindness under given circumstances. Then, the amount of ransom taken from them was far too ordinary.

Certainly great is the kindness of Allah Ta'ala. Imagine the consideration shown for the discomfort caused to them in paying that paltry sum for freedom and see how it is removed. It has been said in verse 70: If Allah shall find any good in your hearts, then, He shall give you what is better than what has been taken from you - and in addition to that, He shall forgive your past sins. The word: خَیر (khayr: good) used here means 'Iman (faith) and Ikhlas (sincerity). The sense of the statement is that prisoners، who once they are free, were to take to 'Iman and Islam with sincerity, then they shall be receiving more and better than what they have given in ransom. Thus, made free and independent, the prisoners have been invited to consider their profit and loss as free individuals.

In consequence, events prove that those from among them who embraced Islam were so heavily rewarded by Allah Ta` ala right here in this mortal world with wealth and property which was way higher than what they had paid as ransom - not to mention the forgiveness they were blessed with and the high ranks of Paradise they received in the Hereafter.

Most commentators have said that this verse was revealed about Sayyidna ` Abbas ؓ the uncle of the Holy Prophet ﷺ because he too was one of the prisoners of Badr and ransom was taken from him too. His case was special in that he had left Makkah to participate in the battle of Badr with almost seven hundred guineas of gold on his person which was meant to be spent on the army of the disbelievers. However, before this could be spent, he was taken a prisoner with the gold.

When came the time to pay ransom, he said to the Holy Prophet ﷺ that the gold he had with him should be applied to cover the amount of his ransom. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: The wealth you brought to support disbelief became war spoils for Muslims. Ransom has to be in addition to that. Alongwith it, he also said: You should also pay the ransom for your two nephews, ` Agil ibn Abi Talib and Nawfil ibn Harith. Thereupon, Sayyidna ` Abbas ؓ said: If so much financial burden was placed on me, I shall have to beg before the Quraysh like a pauper. The Holy Prophet ﷺ said: Why? What about the wealth you had entrusted with your wife, Umm al-Fadl while leaving Makkah? Sayyidna ` Abbas ؓ asked: How did you know this when I had entrusted it with my wife in the darkness of night, personally and in private. There is no third person who knows about it. He said: My Rabb رَبّ has told me everything about it. When Sayyidna ` Abbas ؓ heard these words, his heart became certain that the Holy Prophet ﷺ was a true messenger of Allah.

In fact, Sayyidna ` Abbas ؓ had held the Holy Prophet in esteem even before this happened, but there were some doubts as well - which Allah Ta` ala removed at this moment. So, in reality, he had become a Muslim right then. But, he had a lot of money he had loaned out to the Quraysh of Makkah. If he were to declare his conversion to Islam immediately at that time, all that money would have gone waste. Therefore, he did not make a public announcement of it and the Holy Prophet ﷺ too said nothing about it to anyone. Before the Conquest of Makkah, he requested the Holy Prophet ﷺ for his permission to migrate from Makkah to Madinah. But, the Holy Prophet ﷺ advised him not to do that yet.

Following this conversation with Sayyidna ` Abbas ؓ ، the Holy Prophet ﷺ also told him about the promise appearing in the present verse which says that should he embrace Islam and become a Muslim with unalloyed sincerity of heart, then, the money he has spent in ransom shall be returned to him by Allah Ta` ala making it much more and much better for him. Hence, it was after his adherence to Islam had become public knowledge, he used to say: As for me, I am seeing the manifestation of this promise with my own eyes - because the amount of gold taken from me in ransom at that time was seven hundred guineas (20 Uqiyah). Now, at present, twenty of my slaves are running businesses at several places and no business venture being run by them is worth any less than twenty thousand dirhams each. And on top of all this, I have been blessed with the opportunity to serve Hujjaj, the visiting pilgrims, by providing to them drinking water from the sacred well of Zamzam - a service I consider to be so valuable as would pale out the possession of the entire wealth of the people of Makkah.

ال محمد بن إسحاق : حدثني العباس بن عبد الله بن مغفل ، عن بعض أهله ، عن عبد الله بن عباس - رضي الله عنهما - أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال يوم بدر : إني قد عرفت أن أناسا من بني هاشم وغيرهم ، قد أخرجوا كرها ، لا حاجة لهم بقتالنا ، فمن لقي منكم أحدا منهم - أي : من بني هاشم - فلا يقتله ، ومن لقي أبا البختري بن هشام فلا يقتله ، ومن لقي العباس بن عبد المطلب فلا يقتله ، فإنه إنما أخرج مستكرها . فقال أبو حذيفة بن عتبة : أنقتل آباءنا وأبناءنا وإخواننا وعشائرنا ونترك العباس ! والله لئن لقيته لألجمنه بالسيف ؟ فبلغت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال لعمر بن الخطاب : يا أبا حفص - قال عمر : والله إنه لأول يوم كناني فيه رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - أيضرب وجه عم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بالسيف ؟ فقال عمر : يا رسول الله ، ائذن لي فأضرب عنقه ، فوالله لقد نافق . فكان أبو حذيفة يقول بعد ذلك : والله ما آمن من تلك الكلمة التي قلت ، ولا أزال منها خائفا ، إلا أن يكفرها الله عني بشهادة .

فقتل يوم اليمامة شهيدا ، رضي الله عنه .وبه ، عن ابن عباس قال : لما أمسى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يوم بدر ، والأسارى محبوسون بالوثاق ، بات رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ساهرا أول الليل ، فقال له أصحابه : يا رسول الله ، ما لك لا تنام ؟ - وقد أسر العباس رجل من الأنصار - فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : سمعت أنين عمي العباس في وثاقه ، فأطلقوه فسكت ، فنام رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - .قال محمد بن إسحاق : وكان أكثر الأسارى يوم بدر فداء العباس بن عبد المطلب ، وذلك أنه كان رجلا موسرا فافتدى نفسه بمائة أوقية ذهبا .وفي صحيح البخاري ، من حديث موسى بن عقبة ، قال ابن شهاب : حدثني أنس بن مالك أن رجالا من الأنصار استأذنوا رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقالوا : ائذن لنا فلنترك لابن أختنا عباس فداءه . قال : لا والله ، لا تذرون منه درهما .وقال يونس بن بكير ، عن محمد بن إسحاق ، عن يزيد بن رومان ، عن عروة - وعن الزهري ، عن جماعة سماهم قالوا : بعثت قريش إلى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - في فداء أسراهم ، ففدى كل قوم أسيرهم بما رضوا ، وقال العباس : يا رسول الله ، قد كنت مسلما !

فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : الله أعلم بإسلامك ، فإن يكن كما تقول فإن الله يجزيك ، وأما ظاهرك فقد كان علينا ، فافتد نفسك وابني أخيك : نوفل بن الحارث بن عبد المطلب ، وعقيل بن أبي طالب بن عبد المطلب ، وحليفك عتبة بن عمرو أخي بني الحارث بن فهر قال : ما ذاك عندي يا رسول الله ! قال : فأين المال الذي دفنته أنت وأم الفضل ؟ فقلت لها : إن أصبت في سفري هذا ، فهذا المال الذي دفنته لبني : الفضل ، وعبد الله ، وقثم . قال : والله يا رسول الله ، إني لأعلم أنك رسول الله ، إن هذا لشيء ما علمه أحد غيري وغير أم الفضل ، فاحسب لي يا رسول الله ما أصبتم مني : عشرين أوقية من مال كان معي ، فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : لا ، ذاك شيء أعطانا الله تعالى منك .

ففدى نفسه وابني أخويه وحليفه ، وأنزل الله - عز وجل - فيه : ( يا أيها النبي قل لمن في أيديكم من الأسرى إن يعلم الله في قلوبكم خيرا يؤتكم خيرا مما أخذ منكم ويغفر لكم والله غفور رحيم ) قال العباس : فأعطاني الله مكان العشرين الأوقية في الإسلام عشرين عبدا ، كلهم في يده مال يضرب به ، مع ما أرجو من مغفرة الله - عز وجل - .وقد روى ابن إسحاق أيضا ، عن ابن أبي نجيح ، عن عطاء ، عن ابن عباس في هذه الآية بنحو مما تقدم .وقال أبو جعفر بن جرير : حدثنا ابن وكيع ، حدثنا ابن إدريس [ عن ابن إسحاق ] عن ابن أبي نجيح ، عن مجاهد ، عن ابن عباس قال : قال العباس : في نزلت : ( ما كان لنبي أن يكون له أسرى حتى يثخن في الأرض ) فأخبرت النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بإسلامي ، وسألته أن يحاسبني بالعشرين الأوقية التي أخذ مني ، فأبى ، فأبدلني الله بها عشرين عبدا ، كلهم تاجر ، مالي في يده .وقال ابن إسحاق أيضا : حدثني الكلبي ، عن أبي صالح ، عن ابن عباس ، عن جابر بن عبد الله بن رئاب قال : كان العباس بن عبد المطلب يقول : في نزلت - والله - حين ذكرت لرسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إسلامي - ثم ذكر نحو الحديث الذي قبله .وقال ابن جريج ، عن عطاء الخراساني ، عن ابن عباس : ( يا أيها النبي قل لمن في أيديكم من الأسرى ) عباس وأصحابه .

قال : قالوا للنبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : آمنا بما جئت به ، ونشهد أنك رسول الله ، لننصحن لك على قومنا . فأنزل الله : ( إن يعلم الله في قلوبكم خيرا يؤتكم خيرا مما أخذ منكم ) إيمانا وتصديقا ، يخلف لكم خيرا مما أخذ منكم ) ويغفر لكم ) الشرك الذي كنتم عليه . قال : فكان العباس يقول : ما أحب أن هذه الآية لم تنزل فينا وأن لي الدنيا ، لقد قال : ( يؤتكم خيرا مما أخذ منكم ) فقد أعطاني خيرا مما أخذ مني مائة ضعف ، وقال : ( ويغفر لكم ) وأرجو أن يكون غفر لي .وقال علي بن أبي طلحة ، عن ابن عباس في هذه الآية : كان العباس أسر يوم بدر ، فافتدى نفسه بأربعين أوقية من ذهب ، فقال العباس حين قرئت هذه الآية : لقد أعطانا الله - عز وجل - خصلتين ، ما أحب أن لي بهما الدنيا : إني أسرت يوم بدر ففديت نفسي بأربعين أوقية . فآتاني أربعين عبدا ، وأنا أرجو المغفرة التي وعدنا الله جل ثناؤه .وقال قتادة في تفسير هذه الآية : ذكر لنا أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - لما قدم عليه مال البحرين ثمانون ألفا ، وقد توضأ لصلاة الظهر ، فما أعطى يومئذ شاكيا ، ولا حرم سائلا ، وما صلى يومئذ حتى فرقه ، فأمر العباس أن يأخذ منه ويحتثي ، فأخذ .

قال : فكان العباس يقول : هذا خير مما أخذ منا ، وأرجو المغفرة .وقال يعقوب بن سفيان : حدثنا عمرو بن عاصم ، حدثنا سليمان بن المغيرة ، عن حميد بن هلال قال : بعث ابن الحضرمي إلى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - من البحرين ثمانين ألفا ، ما أتاه مال أكثر منه لا قبل ولا بعد . قال : فنثرت على حصير ونودي بالصلاة . قال : وجاء رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فمثل قائما على المال ، وجاء أهل المسجد فما كان يومئذ عدد ولا وزن ، ما كان إلا قبضا ، [ قال ] وجاء العباس بن عبد المطلب يحثي في خميصة عليه ، وذهب يقوم فلم يستطع ، قال : فرفع رأسه إلى رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فقال : يا رسول الله ، ارفع علي . قال : فتبسم رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - حتى خرج ضاحكه - أو : نابه - وقال له : أعد من المال طائفة ، وقم بما تطيق .

قال : ففعل ، وجعل العباس يقول - وهو منطلق - : أما إحدى اللتين وعدنا الله فقد أنجزنا ، وما ندري ما يصنع في الأخرى : ( يا أيها النبي قل لمن في أيديكم من الأسرى ) الآية ، ثم قال : هذا خير مما أخذ منا ، ولا أدري ما يصنع الله في الأخرى فما زال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - مائلا على ذلك المال ، حتى ما بقي منه درهم ، وما بعث إلى أهله بدرهم ، ثم أتى الصلاة فصلى .حديث آخر في ذلك : قال الحافظ أبو بكر البيهقي : أنبأنا أبو عبد الله الحافظ ، أخبرني أبو الطيب محمد بن محمد بن عبد الله السعيدي ، حدثنا محمش بن عصام ، حدثنا حفص بن عبد الله ، حدثنا إبراهيم بن طهمان ، عن عبد العزيز بن صهيب عن أنس بن مالك قال : أتي رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - بمال من البحرين ، فقال : انثروه في المسجد .قال : وكان أكثر مال أتي به رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فخرج إلى الصلاة ولم يلتفت إليه ، فلما قضى الصلاة جاء فجلس إليه . فما كان يرى أحدا إلا أعطاه ، إذ جاء العباس فقال : يا رسول الله ، أعطني فإني فاديت نفسي ، وفاديت عقيلا . فقال له رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : خذ . فحثا في ثوبه ، ثم ذهب يقله فلم يستطع ، فقال : مر بعضهم يرفعه إلي . قال : لا . قال : فارفعه أنت علي .

قال : لا ، فنثر منه ثم احتمله على كاهله ، ثم انطلق ، فما زال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يتبعه بصره حتى خفي عنه ، عجبا من حرصه ، فما قام رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - وثم منها درهم .وقد رواه البخاري في مواضع من صحيحه تعليقا بصيغة الجزم ، يقول : " وقال إبراهيم بن طهمان " ويسوقه ، وفي بعض السياقات أتم من هذا .