Chapter: The Ruling on Prisoners of War and Captives

The imam is permitted to execute a sane adult prisoner. He may also grant him clemency and spare his life, or ransom him if that would strengthen the Muslims; otherwise, he is not allowed to do so.

Once a captive has been spared through an act of pardon, it is no longer lawful to kill him. If there is uncertainty about whether a prisoner has reached puberty, one looks beneath his waist-wrap: if pubic hair is present, he is treated like a combatant and may be killed or enslaved; if none is found, he is treated like women and dependants, and killing him is forbidden, for fighting women and children has been prohibited.

Should any of these prisoners embrace Islam after their capture and profess faith, there is no legal ground to kill him; he remains a slave. A minor taken captive follows the ruling of his parents, and he remains upon—