VERSE NO. 68

      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.

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