RELEASE THE MUSLIM PRISONERS

RELEASE THE MUSLIM PRISONERS

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Imam Abu Hanifah (rh) has been quoted as saying, “To release Muslims from captivity whether in the East or the West (of the world) is obligatory.” [Imam Sarkhasi, Al-Mabsoot and Tafsir Imam Badawi]

Just as the five daily Salah (prayers) are Fard (obligatory) on the Muslims, likewise the Sawm (fast) in Ramadan is obligatory on the Muslims. To do Da’wah (enjoining the good and forbidding the evil in society) is obligatory on the Muslims. The freeing of Muslims in captivity (Aseer) is also obligatory on the Muslims. To free any Muslim in the captivity of the disbelievers is obligatory. It's not recommended or permissible (mubah).

Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rh) said, “To release the Muslim prisoners is one of the greatest obligations, and to spend money in this way is the best form of Ibadaat (worship - to come close to Allah (swt).” [Majmoo Al-Fatawa, Kitab-ul-Aseer, Volume 28, Page 635]

Sheikh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said: “Freeing the prisoners is one of the greatest compulsory deeds and spending ransom money and other means towards that, is one of the greatest ways to come close to Allah.” [Al-Fatawa (28/635)]

The Messenger of Allah (SAW) paid the ransom for two Muslim men with a man who he (SAWS) had taken from Bani Uqail, and he paid the ransom for two people with a woman who was given as a gift by Salamah bin Al-Akwa.’ [al-Mughni (9/284) No. 7567]

How many of our brothers & sisters are imprisoned and the Ummah have forgotten about them. We have seen recently how the CIA have published reports of torture of Muslims in Guantanamo Bay. This includes simulated drowning (water-boarding) and sleep deprivation for up to 3 days. Are we to just ignore them? It's not my problem? Where is the severe condemnation from the community leaders, like the way they condemn when a Muslim does something?

By Allah, we will be accounted by Allah in regards to the Muslim prisoners. What we did to secure their release. There is a lot we what we can do.

1) Pay money for their release. This could be bail money or even ransom.

Ibn Hazm (rh) said, “It is the consensus (Ijma) of the Companions, that if the only way to release Muslims from captivity is to gather all the money from the Ummah, it becomes Wajib (compulsory) to do this.” [Muhallah Bab-ul-Aseer]

2) Prisoner swap if we have kuffar in captivity. This is what the Prophet (ﷺ) did.

3) Break them out by force if we have the ability.

4) We can make dua for them. The dua is the weapon of the believer.

5) There are many permissible things we can do like, demonstrations, social media campaigns, speaking to media to highlight their situation.

Oh Muslims, the Haq (rights) of our Ummah are being violated daily all over the world and we should fulfil all of our duties (be they Izhaar-ul-Deen, implementing the Shari’ah, Da’wah, Jihad etc.) to Allah (swt) by completing them to the best of our abilities.

Jabir ibn Abdullah reported that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, “No man helps a Muslim at a time when his honour is being belittled or his rights violated except that Allah will help him at a place in which he loves to have His help.” [Abu Dawud] 

Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani said: “The saying of Imam Al-Bukhari, 'The Chapter on Freeing Prisoners' refers to freeing them from the hands of the enemy by money or by other means. The word 'Al-Fakak', where the fa (Arabic letter) from the word has a fatha (it is also permissible for it to take a kasrah), means to free. This word is mentioned in two hadiths. The first one is the hadith of Abu Musa: "Free the prisoner." Ibn Battal said that freeing the prisoners is compulsory on a collective duty (Fard Kifayah). This opinion is also held by the majority of the scholars.” [Fath Al-Bari (6/167)]

Ibn Qudaamah (rh) said: ‘It is obligatory to pay the ransom money for the Muslim prisoners, if it is possible. This was also said by Umar bin Abdul-Aziz, Imam Malik and Ishaq. It has been narrated from Ibn Zubair that he asked al-Hassan bin Ali about freeing the prisoners. al-Hassan replied: “It is obligatory upon the entire Earth on which he was fighting.”