Understanding Islam — Page 176
SLAVERY AND PRISONERS OF WAR 174 practice of making slaves of Muslim captives, therefore, now the Muslims are also not allowed to enslave their prisoners, for, the Holy Quran says that the punishment inflicted on the enemy should be proportionate to the wrong the enemy has been the first to inflict on the Muslims. Hence, when the conditions have changed and the people hostile to the Muslims no longer go to the extent of making slaves of Muslim men and women in times of war, but treat them as State prisoners, it would be unlawful for the Muslims to make slaves of the prisoners of war taken from a belligerent army. 12 Hence, treating prisoners of war as slaves does not have a place in Islam in modern times. F EMALE P RISONERS OF W AR In relation to the subject of prisoners of war, the most contentious issue is that of female prisoners of war. Dr. Qureshi alleges, for instance, “Truth be told, the Holy Quran and hadith contain many references to sex slavery. The Holy Quran explicitly allows Muslim men to use their captive women for