The Release of the Prisoners

“By Allah! You can understand it like this: as soon as we came face-to-face with our enemy, it was as though we presented our necks before them, and they began killing us as they wished and capturing us as they wished.

“Even so, I will not blame Quraysh, because the people we encountered were fair-complexioned and were riding black and white horses. They were moving between the earth and the sky.

“By Allah! Nothing could stand before them.”

Abu Rafi‘ رضي الله عنه says:

“As soon as I heard this, I said:

‘Then, by Allah, they must have been angels!’”

As soon as Abu Lahab heard my words, he became angry and slapped me forcefully across the face.

Then he knocked me down and began beating me severely.

My mistress, Umm al-Fadl, was also present there.

She picked up a wooden support and struck Abu Lahab with such force that his head was injured.

At the same time, Umm al-Fadl said sternly:

“You are beating him only because you consider him weak and because his master is not here.”

Thus, Abu Lahab left that place humiliated.

After suffering such a humiliating defeat in the Battle of Badr, Abu Lahab did not live for more than seven days.

He died after becoming afflicted with a plague-like illness.

No one even had the courage to bury him.

Eventually, his body began to decay in that condition, and a severe stench spread.

Then his sons dug a pit and, using pieces of wood, pushed his body into it.

Afterward, they stood at a distance and threw stones into the pit until it was covered with them.

After this defeat, the women of Makkah mourned their people who had been killed for several months.

In this battle, three sons of a disbeliever named Aswad ibn Zum‘ah were killed.

This was the same man who, whenever he saw the Noble Prophet ﷺ in Makkah, used to mock him and say:

“People! Just look! Before you are the kings of the earth who will conquer the lands of Caesar and Kisra!”

Because of his hurtful words, the Prophet ﷺ prayed that he would become blind.

As a result of this supplication, he became blind.

According to some narrations, the Prophet ﷺ prayed that he would become blind and that his children would also perish.

Allah Almighty accepted the supplication of the Prophet ﷺ.

Thus, first he became blind, and then his children were killed in the Battle of Badr.

After the battle, the Prophet ﷺ consulted the Companions regarding the prisoners.

Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه advised that the prisoners should be released after taking ransom from them.

Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه was of the opinion that they should be killed.

The Prophet ﷺ, considering certain matters of wisdom and benefit, preferred the advice of Hazrat Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه.

He therefore spared their lives, took ransom from them, and released them.

However, in this matter Allah Almighty favored the opinion of Hazrat ‘Umar رضي الله عنه and revealed verses 67 to 70 of Surah al-Anfal.

In these verses, Allah Almighty made it clear that the prisoners should have been killed.

Among the prisoners of Badr was Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه, the husband of the daughter of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها.

At that time, he had not yet accepted Islam.

Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها was in Makkah at that time.

When she learned that the decision had been made to release the prisoners in return for ransom, she sent her necklace as the ransom for her husband.

This necklace had been given to Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها by her mother, Hazrat Khadijah رضي الله عنها, on the occasion of her marriage.

Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه’s brother brought this necklace as the ransom.

He presented the necklace before the Noble Prophet ﷺ.

When the Prophet ﷺ saw the necklace, tears came to his eyes.

He remembered Hazrat Khadijah رضي الله عنها.

The Prophet ﷺ said to the Companions رضي الله عنهم:

“If you consider it appropriate, release Zaynab’s husband and return this necklace to her as well.”

The Companions رضي الله عنهم immediately replied:

“Certainly, O Messenger of Allah!”

Accordingly, Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه was released and Hazrat Zaynab’s رضي الله عنها necklace was returned to her.

However, the Prophet ﷺ took a promise from Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه that as soon as he reached Makkah, he would send Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها to Madinah.

He agreed to this.

*(Here, it should also be clarified that Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها had married Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه at a time when the Prophet ﷺ had not yet begun calling people toward Islam.

When the Prophet ﷺ began preaching Islam, the polytheists pressured Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه to divorce Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها, but he refused to do so.

On the other hand, both sons of Abu Lahab divorced the daughters of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, Hazrat Ruqayyah رضي الله عنها and Hazrat Umm Kulthum رضي الله عنها.

At that time, their marriages had only taken place; the brides had not yet gone to their husbands’ homes.

When the Noble Prophet ﷺ learned that Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه had refused to accept the demand of the polytheists, the Prophet ﷺ prayed for him.

Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه accepted Islam some time after the Battle of Badr.)*

Hazrat Zayd ibn Harithah رضي الله عنه was sent from Madinah to bring Hazrat Zaynab رضي الله عنها.

In accordance with his promise, Abu al-‘As رضي الله عنه sent her with him.

(At that time, the command regarding Hijab had not yet been revealed.)

Thus, she came to Madinah.

On the way, the disbelievers tried to obstruct her, but the brother of Abu al-‘As came in their way, and the polytheists were unsuccessful.

Among the prisoners was also Walid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه, the brother of Hazrat Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه.

He was released after his ransom was paid by his brothers, Hisham and Khalid ibn al-Walid رضي الله عنه.

When they took him to Makkah, he accepted Islam there.

His brothers became very upset with him because of this.

They said:

“If you had already intended to accept Islam, why did you not remain in Madinah and accept Islam there?”