I did not share Abū Bakr’s opinion. Rather, I think you should let me kill So-and-so—he is a kinsman of ʿUmar—let ʿAlī kill ʿAqīl, and let Ḥamzah kill So-and-so, his own brother, so that Allah may know that there is no softness in our hearts toward the idolaters; these men are their champions, notables, and leaders.’

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, inclined to what Abū Bakr had proposed and not to what I had said, and he accepted ransom from them.

The next morning ʿUmar continued: I went early to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and to Abū Bakr, and I found them both weeping. I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, tell me why you and your companion are weeping. If I find reason to weep I will weep; if not, I will at least pretend to weep because the two of you are weeping.’

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, ‘It is because of what your companions suggested to me about taking ransom. Your punishment was shown to me; it was nearer to you than this tree’—pointing to a nearby tree. Then Allah Most High revealed: ‘It is not for a Prophet to have captives until he has thoroughly subdued the land. You desire the fleeting gains of this world, whereas Allah desires the Hereafter; and Allah is Almighty, All-Wise. Had it not been for a decree from Allah that had already preceded, a severe punishment would have afflicted you for what you took’ (Q 8:67-68)—that is, for the ransom. After that He made the war-spoils lawful for them. He then related the rest of the ḥadīth.

Imām Aḥmad said: Abū Muʿāwiyah narrated to us; al-Aʿmash narrated from ʿAmr ibn Murrah, from Abū ʿUbaydah, from ʿAbd Allāh, who said:

On the Day of Badr the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘What do you think should be done with these captives?’

Abū Bakr said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, they are your people and your kin. Spare them and deal gently with them; perhaps Allah will turn to them in repentance.’

ʿUmar said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, they expelled you and called you a liar. Bring them forward and strike their necks.’

ʿAbd Allāh ibn Rawāḥah said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, find a valley filled with firewood, put them in it, and set it ablaze.’

Al-ʿAbbās shouted, ‘You have cut the bonds of kinship!’

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, went inside without giving them any reply. Some people said, ‘He will adopt Abū Bakr’s view.’ Others said, ‘He will adopt ʿUmar’s view.’ Still others said, ‘He will adopt ʿAbd Allāh ibn Rawāḥah’s view.’

He came out to them and said, ‘Allah softens the hearts of some men for His sake until they become softer than milk, and He hardens the hearts of other men for His sake until they become harder than stone. Your likeness, Abū Bakr, is that of Abraham, peace be upon him, who said, “Whoever follows me is truly of me, and whoever disobeys me—surely You are All-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Q 14:36). And your likeness, Abū Bakr, is that of Jesus, who said, “If You punish them, they are Your servants; but if You forgive them, You alone are the Almighty, All-Wise” (Q 5:118).

‘Your likeness, ʿUmar, is that of Noah, who said, “My Lord, leave not upon the earth a single dweller from among the disbelievers” (Q 71:26); and your likeness, ʿUmar, is that of Moses, who said, “Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment” (Q 10:88). You are in straitened circumstances; therefore let no one remain except by paying a ransom or having his neck struck.’

ʿAbd Allāh added, ‘I then said, “O Messenger of Allah—except Suhayl ibn….”’