Islam views on Prisoners of War

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''Treat the prisoners of war kindly."

No, this is not a statement in the Geneva Conventions summarizing the rights of POWs. This is the Prophet Muhammad's instruction to his Companions more than 1400 years ago. Islam has set down rules for warfare, detailing when Muslims should fight, whom they should fight, and how they should fight.

In the time of the Prophet Muhammad, the Muslims set an unprecedented standard for the ethics of dealing with captured enemies. They treated prisoners of war in a manner that has yet to be imitated in history. Islam set the basic rule that the captive is protected by his captivity and the wounded by his injury.

Islam instructs Muslims either to free captives who cannot offer ransom (in the form of money or an equivalent number of Muslim captives) or to ransom prisoners of war.

Prisoners of war are not to be humiliated or degraded in any way. They have the right to their human dignity and the right to be protected from sexual, emotional, and physical abuse. Sufficient health care should be provided for prisoners who need it. Proper food and clothing should also be provided, as well as sanitary facilities. The Prophet also instructed his Companions to shelter their prisoners from the summer sun and to provide them with water to drink.

Captives are invited to learn about Islam, but they are under no pressure whatsoever to convert. [There is no compulsion in religion] (Al-Baqarah 2:256) means that sincerity is an essential requirement of one's faith, so, therefore, no one can be coerced to become a Muslim nor should anyone convert to seek some worldly benefit.

The Qur'an describes the righteous:

[And they, though they hold it dear, give sustenance to the indigent, the orphan and the captive. (Saying) we feed you for the sake of God alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks.] (Al-Insan 76:8-9)

Relating how the Companions complied strictly with the Prophet's instructions on treating POWs, one of the prisoners of the Battle of Badr[2], Huzayr ibn Humayr, said: "I was with one of the Ansari families, after being taken as captive. Whenever they had lunch or dinner, they used to give me preference by providing me with bread while they'd eat only dates, in compliance with the Prophet's order to treat prisoners well."

Another, Thamama ibn Athal, was taken prisoner and brought to the Prophet, who said, "Be good to him in his captivity." When the Prophet went home, he asked that any food in his house be collected and sent to Thamama.

Each human being has inherent value and distinction as God's creation.

Later, the Prophet approached him respectfully and inquired whether Thamama could ransom himself: "What have you, Thamama?" He replied, "Actually I have a lot going for me. If you kill me, you kill a man whose blood will surely be avenged. If you are generous, then you are generous to a man who knows how to be grateful. If you are after money, then ask of me whatever amount you like."

The Prophet left him and on the second day when he approached him, Thamama said basically the same thing. On the third day, the Prophet said, "Let Thamama go."

They unbound him and let him go. He went on his way, quickly took a bath and returned, declaring, "I bear witness that there is no God but Allah and I bear witness that you are the Messenger of Allah. O Muhammad! I swear to Allah that there was no man on the face of the Earth whom I hated more than you. Now you have become to me the dearest of men. And I swear by Allah that there was no religion on earth more loathsome to me than your religion, but now it is the most beloved to me of all religions. There was no country on earth more despised by me than your country, yet now I love it more than any other country in the world.

The Islamic ethics of treating prisoners of war is part of the whole system of Islamic ethics, which places utmost importance on the preservation of human dignity and rights. This principle extends from the rights of the unborn child to the rights of women, the elderly, non-Muslims living in a Muslim country, to aggressive enemies captured as prisoners of war. Each human being has inherent value and distinction as God's creation.

http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/politics/System/article05.shtml

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Ahmad wrote:

The Islamic ethics of treating prisoners of war is part of the whole system of Islamic ethics, which places utmost importance on the preservation of human dignity and rights. This principle extends from the rights of the unborn child to the rights of women, the elderly, non-Muslims living in a Muslim country, to aggressive enemies captured as prisoners of war. Each human being has inherent value and distinction as God's creation.

http://www.islamonline.net/english/introducingislam/politics/System/article05.shtml

are you serious man? I mean, maybe you are right, I BELIEVE you are, but what happens in practice? Have you seen tapes of how some Iraqis treat prisoners? I think that in the time when Arab World is full of fundamentalists that twist Koran and Islam in every possible way, and committing terrible terrorist acts you should post this on arab sites, not here.
Fact that USA did terrible things and that I am strictly against US occupation of Iraq, and that it was kinda symbolic when it was all revealed to put it straight into face of those Americans that think that their country is only moral country in the world does not change fact that there is lot of very very wrong and bad things in Arab World today.

Once again - I am SURE that it's not what real Islam is.

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MyOwnUsername wrote:

are you serious man? I mean, maybe you are right, I BELIEVE you are, but what happens in practice? Have you seen tapes of how some Iraqis treat prisoners? I think that in the time when Arab World is full of fundamentalists that twist Koran and Islam in every possible way, and committing terrible terrorist acts you should post this on arab sites, not here.

What about the 15,000 innocent iraqi muslims slaughtered by the American ' terrorists' ?

When the Americans abuse, rape ,humiliate and torture ''leading to death'' iraqi Muslims, what do you expect in return ??

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Fact that USA did terrible things and that I am strictly against US occupation of Iraq, and that it was kinda symbolic when it was all revealed to put it straight into face of those Americans that think that their country is only moral country in the world does not change fact that there is lot of very very wrong and bad things in Arab World today.

I agree with you, I am an Arab and Muslim, we have some problems, but we dont need the Americans to come and tell us how we should live and by what way.

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Once again - I am SURE that it's not what real Islam is.

Islam is innocent from all this madness, the thing that make me angry is this:

When jew or christian kills, he/she goes on trail but when Muslim kills it is Islam which goes on trail !! is that fair ??

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Sounds like the insurgents in Iraq are cruelly violating the spirit and the teachings of their own religion. I hope the Muslim clergy and religious Muslims like (I assume) yourself will preach the gospel the way you quote it here, to those in Iraq and elsewhere in the Muslim world who violate it or defend violating it - and will lambast them for perverting their prophet's teachings. You've got a challenge cut out for you here.

As for our prejudices, the quotes you bring here are perhaps useful to counter preconceptions about Islam as having always been an inherently violent religion. But on a day-to-day basis, our image of Islam is also/mostly going to be determined by what we see in the news. And as long as there are people out there who claim to be fighting a holy war in the name of Islam while they cruelly kill both Westerners and fellow-Arabs, the association of Islam with violence is going to be out there. Christianity wasn't much associated with "turn the other cheek" at the time of the Crusades, either, and the image of socialism also became tainted when Soviet tyrants started to put people in Gulags in its name.

Now you can teach people about the "real" Islam like you can teach them about "real" socialism, but if you don't also first deal with the extremists who kill and maim in the name of Islam, it's like carrying water to the sea.

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Isn't it too bad that the Moslems never practiced what the preached.

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Ahmad, I agree with you completely when it comes to American occupation of Iraq.
And my response would be the same if someone would post here that American Army is filled only with nice and heroic people that treat all prisoners with respect and dignity (actually, I did comment few of such claims)

I am not (as well as au1929 and nimh) talking about Islam. I am talking about many Islam countries (I also pointed several times civilized Arab/Islam countries such as Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates) that have religious fundamentalists on power and that are lead by religion. Not a single Christian country today (well, except Vatican of course, but that's different kind of example) is run by Church - and not a single country except USA is run by religious fanatic.

Christians are not those that are to blame about perception of Islam today - Muslims are (I am not Christian by the way). Christians can only blame their own religion with their deeds, as well as Muslims can only do that with Islam.
And September 11th attack on USA happened before American intervention in Afghanistan and before American occupation of Iraq - so what is that then Jihad?
My neighbouring country has Muslim majority (as well as my first door neighbour is Muslim Smile

) and I really have no problems with Islam or Muslims.

But I really believe that majority of Muslims in world today DO NOT live and act by Koran. They act like medieval Christians.
And there's also difference in crimes you said.
Terrible Christian crimes few centuries ago were Christian crimes. Today I really don't see Christians killing others in the name of religion.
Those that crashed planes into WTC did that in the name of Islam.

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nimh wrote:

Sounds like the insurgents in Iraq are cruelly violating the spirit and the teachings of their own religion.

I dont think this is the case, you cant take one case ( Berg ) and generalize it all over the insurgents, I mean look at the other American hostage who was released, he said, he was treated very well there !

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I hope the Muslim clergy and religious Muslims like (I assume) yourself will preach the gospel the way you quote it here, to those in Iraq and elsewhere in the Muslim world who violate it or defend violating it - and will lambast them for perverting their prophet's teachings. You've got a challenge cut out for you here.

I think we need to realize that the Americans have no right to be in Iraq or in any Muslim land in the first place, when the American bomb and mutilate Iraqis to pieces, the iraqis will lose their sense of humanity, let me show you what the American bombs did in Iraq:

The Pictures that the Pentagon don't want you to see

http://forums.gawaher.com/index.php?act=ST&f=65&t=495&

Scroll down little bit to see by yourself.

Also, what about this ?

In Picutres: Iraqi In Custody Tortured To Death

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/may2004/051504torturedtodeath.htm

How do you expect any human being to abide by any rules after seeing and witnessing the above ???

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As for our prejudices, the quotes you bring here are perhaps useful to counter preconceptions about Islam as having always been an inherently violent religion. But on a day-to-day basis, our image of Islam is also/mostly going to be determined by what we see in the news.

You said it !! what you see in the NEWS !! your news are BIASED, they dont show you the OTHER side of the story.

For example ! last week 700 muslims were slaughtered in Nigeria by christian terrorists ! did your media reported this ? I DONT THINK SO.

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And as long as there are people out there who claim to be fighting a holy war in the name of Islam while they cruelly kill both Westerners and fellow-Arabs, the association of Islam with violence is going to be out there.

I think this is what your media is always trying to portray the conflict, bunch of fanatic muslims waging holy war ! this is not the case, let me ask you this question:

Who is invading who ? do you see Muslim armies bombings your cities, killing your people and forcing you to have Sharia law or do you see western armies bombing muslim cities, killing thousands of muslims and forcing muslims to change their life and accept your way of life ???

You have to put all this madness in perspective, you are as guilty as our fanatics, the west is not less crul and barbaric than our fanatics.

Let me refer you to what the chief terrorists, bin laden, said in his latest speech:

"What happened in September 11 and March 11 is your own merchandise coming back to you. We hereby advise you ... that your definition of us and of our actions as terrorism is nothing but a definition of yourselves by yourselves, since our reaction is of the same kind as your act. Our actions are a reaction to yours, which are destruction and killing of our people as is happening in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Palestine.

By what measure of kindness are your killed considered innocents while ours are considered worthless? By what school [of thought] is your blood considered blood while our blood is water?
Therefore, it is [only] just to respond in kind, and the one who started it is more to blame..."

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0415-05.htm

You see from his Speech, it is NOT about Allah or Islam or holy way, it is about the injustices inflicted upon muslims.

I dont agree with this killer, he is a murderer and he will go to hell, that is for sure, but you need to understand their mentality in order to defeat them, failing to do so means more and more muslims will be under his command.

Unless the west stop its own terrorism against Muslims, bin laden and his henchmen will be always there.

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Now you can teach people about the "real" Islam like you can teach them about "real" socialism, but if you don't also first deal with the extremists who kill and maim in the name of Islam, it's like carrying water to the sea.

Again, those fanatics are NOT killing in the name of Islam, they killing in the name of the injustice inflicted on Islam.

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au1929 wrote:

Isn't it too bad that the Moslems never practiced what the preached.

Any proofs ???

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MyOwnUsername wrote:

Ahmad, I agree with you completely when it comes to American occupation of Iraq.

Thanks.

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And September 11th attack on USA happened before American intervention in Afghanistan and before American occupation of Iraq - so what is that then Jihad?

Do you think History starts at 9/11 ? do you think America did not do anything wrong before ??

It is not who did it! It is why it was done that really matters!

http://www.answering-christianity.com/us_attack.htm

Did you know for example what ironically happened on 9/11-1973 ??

Holocaust of the Iraqi people from the US and UN:

http://www.mideastfacts.com/index_iraq.html

What about the American support for the Israeli sadistic terrorism against the muslims in Palestine ???

http://www.alkhilafah.info/massacres/palestine/jenin.htm

American State Terrorism

A Critical Review of The Objectives of U.S. Foreign Policy in The Post-World War II Period

http://www.mediamonitors.net/mosaddeq13.html

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My neighbouring country has Muslim majority (as well as my first door neighbour is Muslim ) and I really have no problems with Islam or Muslims.

Because you are civilized person, educated and open minded.

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But I really believe that majority of Muslims in world today DO NOT live and act by Koran. They act like medieval Christians.

there is about 2 billion muslim in the world nowadays, are you suggesting all of them act like medieval christians ???

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Terrible Christian crimes few centuries ago were Christian crimes. Today I really don't see Christians killing others in the name of religion.

Oh really ?? how about the LORD RESISTANCE ARMY in Uganda ?

How about Timothy Macveigh the American christian terrorist who killed more than 200 innocent civilians in Oklahoma ?

How about the Christian terrorists who massacred tens of thousands of Muslims in BOSNIA ?? ( your neighbours ) ??

How about the christian terrorists who massacred 700 muslims in Nigeria last week ?

How about the KKK in America ?

How about the christian abortion clincs bombers in America ?

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Those that crashed planes into WTC did that in the name of Islam.

This is not true, Islam did not give them authoraization to do so, Muslims did not give them the OK to do that, so your statement is flawed.

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No matter what I think about what Serbs and unfortunately even some Bosnian Croats did in Bosnia, this was not religious war. It was war for territories. If you asked members of all three nations before the war what they are, huge majority of Serbs would tell you that they are atheists, many Croats as well, and even most Muslims were Muslims only by tradition (following some basic rules, but I doubt most of them ever prayed). Serbs were attacking everyone on this area simply to keep some territories under their influence, they attacked christian countries like Slovenia and Croatia, muslim country like Bosnia, and Albanians in Kosovo that are christian-muslim mix.

However, you are completely right about christian terrorists in Africa. My mistake. And it's not that I am not noticing them because they are christians and I am from christian country, but because it's kinda normal that you first notice and better notice what is possible threat to you. Al Qaeda is possible threat to all world (as well as Bush's behaviour is), while christian terrorists in Nigeria are threat "only" for members of other religious groups in Nigeria. That does not make them better of course.

As for WTC attack, I know Islam did not give them authorization, nor Muslims - but if they said or acted like they doing it in the name of Islam many people will believe that Islam is violent religion.

Of course USA did a lot of bad things before 9/11. But Serbs did a lot of bad things in my country and in my town exactly, and I never had urge to crush an airplane into some tall building in Belgrade and kill thousands of innocent people. Neither I ever confused Serbia and Serbian politics with ordinary Serbs.

But world is generally responsible for raise in terrorism. I am sure every normal person has much much more sympathies for Kurds that mostly peacefully fight for their independence then for Palestinians that are constantly committing terrible crimes. However, Palestinians are much closer to their goal then Kurds. So, world is giving message "eventually, if you kill enough innocent people, we will be ready to give you what you want".

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MyOwnUsername wrote:

No matter what I think about what Serbs and unfortunately even some Bosnian Croats did in Bosnia, this was not religious war. It was war for territories. If you asked members of all three nations before the war what they are, huge majority of Serbs would tell you that they are atheists, many Croats as well, and even most Muslims were Muslims only by tradition (following some basic rules, but I doubt most of them ever prayed). Serbs were attacking everyone on this area simply to keep some territories under their influence, they attacked christian countries like Slovenia and Croatia, muslim country like Bosnia, and Albanians in Kosovo that are christian-muslim mix.

Well reading and seeing pictures of the serb generals who massacred tens of thousands of Muslims, we can see clearly that this war was indeed religious war.

I agree that it was about land but was covered with religion to give it more glory.

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However, you are completely right about christian terrorists in Africa. My mistake. And it's not that I am not noticing them because they are christians and I am from christian country, but because it's kinda normal that you first notice and better notice what is possible threat to you. Al Qaeda is possible threat to all world (as well as Bush's behaviour is), while christian terrorists in Nigeria are threat "only" for members of other religious groups in Nigeria. That does not make them better of course.

The biggest threat to our world Peace now is not bunch of backward terrorists such as Al qaeda, it is AIDS, famine, hunger and poverty.

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As for WTC attack, I know Islam did not give them authorization, nor Muslims - but if they said or acted like they doing it in the name of Islam many people will believe that Islam is violent religion.

It is worth noting that some of those hijackers were actually in a bar the night before the attacks drinking ALCOHOL ( which strictly forbidden in Islam) and whoring ( it is also forbidden in Islam ), it only makes you wonder !! were they really muslims ??? sometimes, I suspect that it was not those alleged 19 hijackers who did it !

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Of course USA did a lot of bad things before 9/11. But Serbs did a lot of bad things in my country and in my town exactly, and I never had urge to crush an airplane into some tall building in Belgrade and kill thousands of innocent people. Neither I ever confused Serbia and Serbian politics with ordinary Serbs.

Can you tell me what the Croats did when they were attacked by the Serbs ??? did they sit down waiting for the serbs to come and kill them ?

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But world is generally responsible for raise in terrorism. I am sure every normal person has much much more sympathies for Kurds that mostly peacefully fight for their independence then for Palestinians that are constantly committing terrible crimes. However, Palestinians are much closer to their goal then Kurds. So, world is giving message "eventually, if you kill enough innocent people, we will be ready to give you what you want".

The Palestineans are the MOST oppressed people on earth !

check these pictures and tell me what would you do if your family were in these pictures ?

http://www.koshertaxscam.com/atroc/

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Ahmad wrote:

It is not who did it! It is why it was done that really matters!

That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. Do not expect me to agree.

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Ahmad wrote:

It is not who did it! It is why it was done that really matters!

That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. Do not expect me to agree.

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Well Ahmad, I live here after all. Serbs committed terrible crimes in Croatia and Bosnia but most of them never even entered church - serbian army was made of low life scum (most serbian young intellectuals were avoiding mobilisation and many of them went to other countries just not to be part of that war). So, no, this was not religious war, unless every conflict between people that happen to be of different religion is religious war. What happened in Srebrenica was terrible slaughtering but that happened in some croatian places as well (they, Christians, slaughtered entire village of Skabrnja, Croatia, where, of course, Christians live, as well as they after occupying Vukovar, took 200 Croats from hospital and slaughter them). It was "simply" slaughtering. Christians, Muslims, Hinduists...whoever was in Srebrenica would be killed same. It's terrible crime but is not religious.

Of course we defended ourselves. But we never went to Serbia doing same things. But you can also reach beyond borders of normal defending. Everybody with IQ higher then 37 knows that Serbs were cause for Balkan Wars and that they are responsible for everything that happened. However, SOME Croats, while defending their country, also committed some terrible war crimes. They are now either in croatian jails or in International War Court in Hague, Netherlands. And I am happy they are. Serbs may be wrong as much as they are, but if someone killed serbian civilian out of revenge he is same as serbian nazists that invaded our country.
So, if people in Iraq kill american soldiers I am not happy about it, but I will never call that crime. They are killing members of foreign troops in their own country. But if they slaughter innocent civilians there is no excuse for that.

Palestinians ARE opressed and it's pretty sad to all mankind that Jews are doing the same thing they had to go through just 60 years ago, but NOTHING can approve their actions. You can't blow up bus full of school children for absolutely no reason.
And, also I doubt that they are opressed more then Kurds. At least they are on same level. And I don't see Kurds killing everyone they can.

If I HAVE to go that far, and I know many people will probably be surprised by this fact - I generally disagree with every terrorist act, but if Al Qaeda terrorist took EMPTY plane and crushed it into Pentagon as military object of country that bombed Iraq several times, then it would be something I would completely understand. Killing thousand of civilians has nothing to do with anything.

As for threats - well...you are right that those things are huge threats, but I still believe terrorists are bigger threat. Cause, you know, I am not from rich country, but I will surely not die from hunger or poverty. Difference is in fact that people in very poor countries can unfortunately die from hunger or poverty, BUT they can ALSO die from terrorism.

By the way, if that would be my family in those pictures I would try anything I can to kill the ones that did it in most brutal and most cruel way. However, I would never kill another innocent civilian because of it, especially not child.

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sorry, now I notice I was bit long Smile

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There is something very disturbing here.

Ahmad posted a piece saying that there is a moral imperitive to treat prisoners of war humanely. His article was based on Muslim teaching, but there was nothing in his article that I disagree with.

It seems like a natural response should be agreement. I certainly think that treating prisoners humanely should be a part of any moral code.

The knee-jerk response to this plea was an attack on the religion that is making this case for morality.

This whole argument about whether Christians or Muslims commit more atrocities is immature and inane.

The fact is that Ahmad, and the writer of this article are Muslims who, based on their religion, believe that prisoners should be treated with dignity and compassion.

Agree or disagree if you like.

But stop these idiotic bigoted attacks on their religion.

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Ahmad,

I agree with your call for treating people with dignity. I wish people of all religions would heed this call.

However, you shouldn't let yourself get dragged into these arguments. There are many Americans, and even some Christians who respect your message.

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ebrown_p wrote:

Ahmad,

I agree with your call for treating people with dignity. I wish people of all religions would heed this call.

However, you shouldn't let yourself get dragged into these arguments. There are many Americans, and even some Christians who respect your message.

I totally agree with you, Generalization is the tool of the fools, I am certain that many Americans are peace loving and dont accept what is happening in their name.

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ebrown_p wrote:

But stop these idiotic bigoted attacks on their religion.

Thank you very much ! you know what pain us Muslims is the fact that no matter what we do, no matter how much we condemn terrorism and every evil done in the name of our faith, some bigots will still attack Islam !!

Very sad.

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roger wrote:

Ahmad wrote:

It is not who did it! It is why it was done that really matters!

That is your opinion, and you are entitled to it. Do not expect me to agree.

I am not expecting you to agree, I am expecting you to '' understand''.

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Islam views on Prisoners of War

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