Islam and Slavery — Page 56
THE DISTRIBUTION OF WAR PRISONERS AMONG. THE SOLDIERS. WE now come to the question relating to the placing of the war prisoners in the custody of individuals. It is true that in the beginning the prisoners were distributed among the Muslim soldiers, and in fact, it is this circumstance alone which has been taken to give this practice a colour of slavery. But when we carefully consider the circumstances under which the above course was adopted, we find that there is absolutely nothing objectionable about it nor can the word "slavery" be applied to in the sense in which it is generally understood. . We must first of all bear in mind that the practice in question did not form an essential part of the Islamic teachings. . As a matter of fact it finds no mention in the special instructions which have been given in the Quran with . regard to the prisoners of war. (¹) It was only a retributive measure which was taken recourse to as an answer to the extremely aggressive conduct of the enemy who made slaves of Muslim prisoners and distributed them among the individuals. It was therefore, only to bring the enemy to his senses, that the Muslims also resorted to the method of placing the prisoners of war in the custody of individuals; but Islam never permitted their enslavement in the way in which the Muslim prisoners were enslaved by the infidels. (1) Quran, 8:67; 47:4.