LECTURE NO 243 || “Battle of Badr: Spoils of War & Prisoners – Lessons from Prophet ﷺ .

#prophetmuhammad #historicallessons #BadrBattle

Hadith Reference & Translation,

Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates

On the day of the Battle of Badr, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever kills someone, the spoils of war he acquires belong to him, and whoever captures someone, their possessions and ransom belong to the captor.

Explanation,

During the Battle of Badr, the first major battle between Muslims and the Quraysh, the Prophet ﷺ established clear rules regarding war ethics and spoils.

Killing in battle: If a Muslim killed an enemy combatant in accordance with the rules of engagement, the property obtained from that action (the spoils) was lawfully his. This prevents disputes and maintains order among soldiers.

Capturing prisoners: If a Muslim captured someone alive, the captor had rights over the prisoner’s possessions and ransom. This provided a clear system for prisoners of war, emphasizing justice and accountability.

This instruction from the Prophet ﷺ demonstrates the fairness, organization, and Islamic principles in warfare, ensuring that soldiers are rewarded appropriately for their efforts while maintaining ethical standards.

Key lesson: Islam regulates war with justice and clarity, protecting rights and property even during conflict, and discouraging chaos or disputes over spoils.


In this lecture, we explore the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regarding the Battle of Badr, focusing on the rules of war and the distribution of spoils. Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates how the Prophet ﷺ instructed that:

The spoils obtained by killing an enemy belong to the one who killed them.

The possessions and ransom of captured prisoners belong to the captor.

This guidance highlights the ethical principles in Islamic warfare, ensuring justice, accountability, and fairness even during conflicts.

✅ Learn how Islam manages war ethics, spoils, and prisoners.
✅ Understand practical lessons from the Battle of Badr.
✅ Discover how Islamic rules prevented disputes among soldiers.