مَا كَانَ لِنَبِىٍّ أَن يَكُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَسْرَىٰ حَتَّىٰ يُثْخِنَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ تُرِيدُونَ عَرَضَ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱللَّهُ يُرِيدُ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةَ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَزِيزٌ حَكِيمٌ 67
Translations
It is not for a prophet to have captives [of war] until he inflicts a massacre [upon Allāh's enemies] in the land. You [i.e., some Muslims] desire the commodities of this world, but Allāh desires [for you] the Hereafter. And Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.
Transliteration
Mā kāna linabiyyīn an yakūna lahu asrā ḥattā yuthkhina fī al-arḍ. Turīdūna ʿaraḍa ad-dunyā wa-Allāhu yurīdu al-ākhirah. Wa-Allāhu ʿazīzun ḥakīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes that it is impermissible for a Prophet to take prisoners of war before thoroughly subduing and weakening the enemy through decisive military action. The verse rebukes the Companions for prioritizing ransom (worldly gain) over complete victory and the establishment of Islam, while Allah desires the ultimate success in the Hereafter. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain this as a divine directive correcting the practice at Badr, where the Muslims accepted ransoms instead of executing or fully subjugating the captives, which Allah viewed as incomplete in fulfilling the objective of the battle.
Revelation Context
This ayah was revealed regarding the Battle of Badr (2 AH), where the Muslims captured seventy Quraysh soldiers. The Companions chose to ransom these prisoners for wealth rather than execute them or ensure complete military victory. The verse criticizes this decision as prioritizing material gain over the establishment of divine authority and the complete defeat of disbelief.
Related Hadiths
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding the prisoners of Badr: 'If Al-Miqdad had ordered them to be killed, they would have been killed' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet consulted Abu Bakr and Umar about the prisoners, with Umar advocating for execution and Abu Bakr for ransom (Sahih Muslim).
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should align their priorities with divine objectives rather than immediate material benefits, and leadership decisions in matters of faith and security require a balance between mercy and firmness in achieving the ultimate goal of establishing Allah's religion on earth.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُنفِقُونَ أَمْوَٰلَهُمْ لِيَصُدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَسَيُنفِقُونَهَا ثُمَّ تَكُونُ عَلَيْهِمْ حَسْرَةً ثُمَّ يُغْلَبُونَ ۗ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ يُحْشَرُونَ
Indeed, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of Allāh. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of] regret; then they will be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.
إِذْ يُرِيكَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فِى مَنَامِكَ قَلِيلًا ۖ وَلَوْ أَرَىٰكَهُمْ كَثِيرًا لَّفَشِلْتُمْ وَلَتَنَـٰزَعْتُمْ فِى ٱلْأَمْرِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَلَّمَ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
[Remember, O Muḥammad], when Allāh showed them to you in your dream as few; and if He had shown them to you as many, you [believers] would have lost courage and would have disputed in the matter [of whether to fight], but Allāh saved [you from that]. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
لِيُحِقَّ ٱلْحَقَّ وَيُبْطِلَ ٱلْبَـٰطِلَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ ٱلْمُجْرِمُونَ
That He should establish the truth and abolish falsehood, even if the criminals disliked it.
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِن يَنتَهُوا۟ يُغْفَرْ لَهُم مَّا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِن يَعُودُوا۟ فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّتُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.