Islam and Slavery — Page 63
63 put to death not because he was a member of a hostile army, or a fighting nation, but because he had committed an offence the punishment of which was death. However some of our theologians, merely seeing that the persons slain were Priosners of war, concluded that it was justifiable to slay a prisoner of war. But as pointed out above this conclusion is utterly erroneous and unwarranted according to the plain teachings of Islam and the practice of the Holy. Prophet (may peace and the blessings of God be upon him). . Such in short is the outline of the Islamic teaching with regard to the prisoners of war. Now every sensible man can see how extremely fair this teaching is which God vouchsafed to the world through the Holy Prophet of Islam. . Even the most advanced and enlightened nations of the present day have not been able to give to the world a better law than this. It is a law which while. calculated to put a check upon the undue prolongation of war and the aggression of one nation against another, has been tempered with mercy and kindness in a most remarkable way. . The truth is that in law of Islam relating to war prisoners, the element of clemency and benevolence has been made to outweigh even that of self-protection and defence. . Certainly, no nation on earth has prescribed such a beneficent treatment towards its enemies. -