Islam and Human Rights — Page 92
Isl am and Hum an R ights 92 All these provisions and devices were designed to facili tate the progressive setting at large of prisoners held in captivity in consequence of their participation in one of the gravest and most heinous moral crimes, namely the attempt, by the use of force, to deprive others of their most precious freedom, the freedom of conscience. They had sought to enslave the souls of others; their just recompense was a partial restriction of their physical liberty, for a term that might prove to be long or short, depending on circum stances and contingencies. During that term, the conditions under which they were held were not too severe. The Prophet had admonished: “These are your brethren over whom Allah has granted you authority, then he who has a brother under his authority should feed him on what he eats himself, should clothe him as he clothes himself, should not set him a task beyond his capacity, and if he is assigned something heavy or difficult, should help him in carrying it out”. 46 On one occasion he observed while passing along, that a man had raised his arm to strike another who was in his custody. “What art thou about?” called out the 46 Abu Daud IV. Sect. :Good Behaviour, Ch. :Rights of those held in Custody.