Islam and Slavery — Page 53
" 53. Firstly, to release the prisoners without taking any ransom money. . Secondly, to release them for a reasonable ransom and the practice of the Holy Prophet shows that there can be three forms of ransom: (a) Payment of ransom in cash to be made either immediately or under the system of. Mukatabat already described, the alternatives being at the option of the prisoner, (b) Exchange with Muslim prisoners. (c) Exacting of some suitable service from the prisoners; for instance, if the prisoners know some art or profession, it might be stipulated with them that if they taught that art or profession to a certain number of. Muslims, they might be set at liberty in return for that service. . Thirdly, to prolong the period of imprisonment till the termination of war. By the termination of war is meant its complete termination when not only military operations practically cease, but also the burdens which the war might have laid on the nation and for which the enemy is held responsible are removed. This last alternative has been proposed as a provision for cases when on the one hand it is not advisable to release the prisoners without ransom, and on the other they or their friends and relatives do not, for some reason or other, come forward to pay ransom. In such cases, the prisoners may be detained till the termination of war, so that their release may not add to the troubles of the Muslims. It is this form of imprisonment that has sometimes been termed 'slavery' and which has been permitted by Islam, but evena cursory