Although the motive of worldly gain that may have been in the hearts of the victorious Muslims in the Battle of Badr, has been condemned here, and declared as worthy of severe punishment; God's previous sanction and general plans permits not to punish a sinner, until the evil consequences of his sinning has been made clear to him, and he has clearly understood the intention and commandment of God. Due to such previous sanctions from Allah, those who took captives, or behaved unjustly towards them, did not taste their due punishment for their lack of understanding and awareness. So what actually was done in the Badr, like taking captives, and dealing with them, is ascribed to the preordained sanction of Allah:

      ``Had it not been for a previous sanction from Allah, you would have been afflicted with a great punishment for what you have taken as captives.''

      To make it short, the blame is on those Muslims who proceeded to take captives for temporal gains, before the war was over and won, and they could have been sure of their victory.

      There is a tradition that the only man who objected on taking captives, or killing the prisoners of war, was either OMAR or SAAD- IBN- MOAZ; and to this effect, our prophet after the incident of the captives of Badr said: ``Had the punishment of Allah been issued on account of the captives, no one from among us would be saved from the wrath of Allah, except OMAR, or SAAD- IBN- MOAZ.''

      On the other hand, the verses do not imply that it is strictly forbidden for Muslim forces to take prisoners of war. It depends on the policy, justifications, and also how the true Imam, who is general commander of Islamic forces, deem it advisable and proper to take war prisoners. The individual Muslims have not any right or authority of their own, to do that willingly or without being ordered to do so.

THE CAPTIVES OF BADR

      According to the narration cited by great historians like TABARI, and also according to the famous SEEREH- IBN- HESHطM, the following is some reports on those who were taken captives in the Battle of Badr.

      In the battle of Badr, seventy men of the pagans were captivated. Most of the captives were those cruel oppressors who tortured and persecuted Muslims for their religious ideas and inflicted severe pains on their wives and children.

      When Muslims seized them in the Badr, they were so angry and furious that they were seriously thinking of killing and mutilating them all, but the prophet could manage to control that harsh general rage, and treat the prisoners justly!

      As an instance of such anger, we may refer to what BALطL did: Every Muslim knows how Balal's master persecuted his poor black slave merely for his religious beliefs. He forced Balal to lay bare upon the hot sands under the hot Arabian sunshine, asking him to recant, and whipping him with lashes to abjure his religion!

      After the war in Badr was over, Balal saw his former master chained in the hands of Muslims. He remembered the torments and agonies that his slave owner had inflicted on him for no guilt. He therefore got excited by seeing him and cried out: ``O, Muslims! Here is the root of heresy! May I get no salvation if I leave him to go alive!'' He then rushed to kill his former master, but ABD- RAHMAN the captivator objected saying: ``O, Balal! Keep your hands off my captives! You have no right to kill him!'' But Balal insisted on his assertion and intention, and called some of his friends to give him a hand and they slew OMMAYEH- IBN- KHALAF and also his son who had come to defend his father!

      Although Balal was a true believer and a faithful Muslim, loved by the prophet, he could not control his anger, and did what he should not have done it- he couldn't help!

      As another instance of such uncontrolable wraths and rages; we may cite the event of MASAAB- IBN- UMER who found his own brother (ABUAZIZ- IBN- UMEIR) among the captives. He said to the captivator: `I know this man well! Bind him tight and firm, because his mother is a very rich woman, and will pay whatever is needed to ransom him!''

      ABUAZIZ, who was amazed by his brother's assertion said:

      ``Is that what a brother should do for his brother in such a dangerous condition?!'' In answer to that, MASAAB said: ``My real brother is your jailer, and not you!'' (SEEREH IBN HISHAM)

      So far no one other than Mohammad is known to have been able to overcome such stimulus of rage and vengeance among his armed and victorious warriors.

      The prophet gave each of seventy captives to one or two of his companions as trusts, and told them to keep the prisoners well, and with utmost kindness and mercy, until they are judged. The prophet did that because he had no prison at all! Even when he obtained the greatest social and political and religious power ever heard, he did not build a jail in his dominion! He ordered the believers to be kind and compassionate to the prisoners they held, and to feed them from the same food, they fed themselves!

      Imam Ali (AS) did the same with his assassinator when ABDUL- RAHMطN- ALMORADI, assassinated him in the sanctum of KOOFEH MOSQUE, when he was performing his morning prayer.

      The prophet managed to change the attitudes towards the captives, and made his followers to control their angers and become peaceful and moderate.

      Among the prisoners those who could read and write were luckier, because the prophet ordered each of them to teach ten Muslims in exchange for ransom. (FORUGH ABADIYAT- J. SOBAHNI)

      The rest of the captives were freed ransom paid, but among them were some who could not afford the ransom. These too, were set free for nothing. They only promised not to fight again with the prophet, but most of them took part in other wars that were waged against the prophet.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE