Islam and Human Rights — Page 91
Article 4 91 were otherwise entitled to com pensation, and were put to work. In many cases prisoners of war were released without exchange or ransom as a matter of favour (47:5). Ransom could be very light. After the battle of Badr, it was announced that the ransom of a literate prisoner would be that he should teach the alphabet to ten Muslim children. 45 Those who could be put to work were entitled to be set at large to work on there own, if they so desired, and to ransom themselves out of their earnings. They could obtain a writing to that effect and were to be helped in carrying out the obligation thus undertaken (24:34). Those who were fit for marriage were free to marry. “If they be poor, Allah will grant them means out of His bounty. Allah is Bountiful, All-Knowing. Those who find no means of marriage should keep themselves chaste until Allah grants them means out of His bounty” (24:33-34). Out of the proceeds of the Zakat , charitable funds and the income of charitable endowments, provision should be made for ransoming captives and the relief of debtors (9:60). 45 Mirza Bashir Ahmad: Sirat Khataman Nabiyyin II, p. 160, on the authority of Tabaqat Ibn Sa’ad.