Ransom of the Prisoners of the Battle of Badr – Part Two Among the prisoners was Abu ‘Azzah, a poet of Quraysh who had often harmed the Muslims through his poetry. He was captured at Badr, but he was poor. He looked at the Prophet and said: “Muhammad, you know my poverty and the number of my children. Show me mercy, and may you be rewarded with goodness.” The Prophet replied: “We shall release you without ransom, on the condition that you never again use your poetry against us and never raise your sword against us.” Abu ‘Azzah agreed and swore that he would neither use his tongue nor his sword against the Muslims. He returned home safely. But when a year had passed and Quraysh marched out for the Battle of Uhud seeking revenge, Abu ‘Azzah was among the first to stir people against the Muslims with his poetry and joined the battle. After the battle, when the Muslims pursued Quraysh to Hamra’ al-Asad, some companions captured Abu ‘Azzah again and brought him before the Prophet. The Prophet said: “Where is your promise, Abu ‘Azzah?” He replied: “Forgive me, Muhammad. Show me mercy, and I will never do it again.” The Prophet answered: “No, by Allah. You shall not return to Makkah stroking your cheeks and saying, ‘I deceived Muhammad twice.’” Abu al-‘As ibn al-Rabi‘ Another prisoner was Abu al-‘As ibn al-Rabi‘, the husband of Zaynab, the Prophet’s eldest daughter. He had married her before the Prophet received revelation. His aunt was Khadijah, the Prophet’s wife. Abu al-‘As was known in Quraysh as an honorable and trustworthy merchant, and he deeply loved Zaynab. When Quraysh began opposing the Prophet, they pressured the husbands of the Prophet’s daughters to divorce them. Ruqayyah and Umm Kulthum, who had been married to sons of Abu Lahab, were divorced immediately. But Abu al-‘As refused. Although he did not follow Islam at that time, he said: “I have seen nothing but goodness from Muhammad. I am not upon his religion, but I will not leave his daughter.” He even refused suggestions that he marry another woman. Separation After the Hijrah When the Prophet migrated to Madinah, Zaynab remained in Makkah even though she was a believer. During the Battle of Badr, Abu al-‘As was compelled to join Quraysh and was captured. The Prophet saw him among the prisoners. Although he knew his noble character and family connection, he treated him like every other prisoner and required him to pay ransom. News reached Zaynab in Makkah. When she learned that her husband was a prisoner, she gathered what wealth she had and removed a necklace from her neck—a necklace that had been given to her by her mother Khadijah on the occasion of her marriage—and sent it as ransom. When the necklace was presented, the Prophet was deeply moved because it reminded him of Khadijah. Before releasing Abu al-‘As, the Prophet told him: “Allah has separated between believers and disbelievers. Zaynab is no longer lawful for you as a wife. When you return to Makkah, send her to us.” Abu al-‘As agreed. Zaynab’s Journey to Madinah When Abu al-‘As returned to Makkah, he told Zaynab: “Return to your father.” He prepared her provisions and mount and informed her that messengers sent by the Prophet would accompany her to Madinah. Because of his deep love for her, he could not bring himself to accompany her to the desert and bid farewell. Instead, he entrusted his brother to escort and protect her. When Quraysh saw her departing openly, they became furious and pursued her. Her escort stood ready with bow and arrows and warned: “By Allah, if anyone approaches her, I will put an arrow through his throat.” Then Abu Sufyan intervened and argued that allowing her to leave openly would make Quraysh appear weak before the Arab tribes. A compromise was reached: Zaynab would remain a few more days and then leave secretly. Eventually, she was safely delivered to the Prophet’s messengers. Reunion Years Later Zaynab refused to remarry for six years, hoping that Abu al-‘As would one day embrace Islam. Later, while returning from a trading journey, Abu al-‘As encountered a Muslim expedition. The caravan’s goods were seized, but he escaped and secretly entered Madinah, seeking protection from Zaynab. The next morning, as the Prophet prepared for prayer, Zaynab publicly announced: “People, I have granted protection to Abu al-‘As, so grant him protection as well.” She then spoke to the Prophet, asking him to honor her guarantee. The Prophet addressed the Muslims: “This man has never given me cause to criticize him as a son-in-law. He spoke to me and was truthful; he promised me and fulfilled his promise. If you wish to return his property to him and let him return home, that is preferable to me. But the decision is yours.” The Muslims agreed and returned all his property. The Prophet then declared: “We honor the protection granted by Zaynab.” Abu al-‘As Accepts Islam When Abu al-‘As returned to Makkah, he distributed all the merchants’ property back to its owners. After everyone had received what was due to them, he asked: “Does anyone still have any claim against me?” They replied: “No. We have always found you trustworthy and honorable.” He then announced: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” He returned to Madinah and came directly to the Prophet, saying: “Yesterday you granted me protection, and today I have come to declare: There is no god but Allah, and you are the Messenger of Allah.” Then he asked: “Messenger of Allah, will you permit me to return to Zaynab?” The Prophet personally went to Zaynab’s home and said: “Zaynab, your cousin has come today asking permission to return to you. Will you accept?” She did. The Prophet remarried them. Their Final Days Abu al-‘As and Zaynab lived together for about one year after their reunion. Then Zaynab passed away. The Prophet grieved deeply for his daughter, yet he also tried to comfort Abu al-‘As because of the great love he had for her. Unable to bear the separation, Abu al-‘As died about a year after Zaynab’s death.