If the disbelievers kill Muslim captives, should we kill their captives?
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The questioner : If the disbelievers kill Muslim captives, should we kill their captives?
The Shaykh : No, this is left to the opinion of the Imam. If the Imam sees that killing their captives in front of them would be a means of retribution against them, let him do so. This may be more appropriate than enslaving them, because enslaving them offers only a financial benefit. However, there may be a religious benefit, in that these captives might become Muslims and the Muslims might benefit from them. Thus, the Imam has the choice, based on what is in the public interest, between killing the captives, enslaving them, exchanging them for money or a Muslim captive, or releasing them without taking anything, according to what the public interest requires.
The Shaykh : No, this is left to the opinion of the Imam. If the Imam sees that killing their captives in front of them would be a means of retribution against them, let him do so. This may be more appropriate than enslaving them, because enslaving them offers only a financial benefit. However, there may be a religious benefit, in that these captives might become Muslims and the Muslims might benefit from them. Thus, the Imam has the choice, based on what is in the public interest, between killing the captives, enslaving them, exchanging them for money or a Muslim captive, or releasing them without taking anything, according to what the public interest requires.