67 Preface ما كانَ لِنَبِيٍّ أَن يَكونَ لَهُ أَسرىٰ حَتّىٰ يُثخِنَ فِي الأَرضِ ۚ تُريدونَ عَرَضَ الدُّنيا وَاللَّهُ يُريدُ الآخِرَةَ ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَزيزٌ حَكيمٌYusuf AliIt is not fitting for a messenger that he should have prisoners of war until he hath thoroughly subdued1 the land. Ye look for the temporal goods of this world; but God looketh to the Hereafter: And God is Exalted in might, Wise.An ordinary war may be for territory or trade, revenge or military glory? all “temporal goods of this world.” Such a war is condemned. But a Jihad is fought under strict conditions laid down by Islam, and solely for the cause of God. All baser motives, therefore are strictly excluded. The greed of gain in the shape of ransom from captives has no place in such warfare. (R). At the same time, if there has been heavy loss of life already, captives may be taken, and it would be for the Imām to exercise his discretion as to the time when it was safe to release them, and whether the release should be free or on parole or on a fine by way of punishment. Destruction and slaughter, however repugnant to a gentle soul like that of Muḥammad, were inevitable where evil tried to suppress the good. Even Jesus, whose mission was more limited, had to say: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.” (Matt. 10:34), (Cf. 47:4). Seventy captives were taken at Badr, and it was decided to take ransom for them. While the general principle of fighting for the purpose of taking captives in order to get their ransom is condemned, the particular action in this case was approved in vv. 68-71.