Treatment of Captives in Judaism and Islam - Jerusalem Youth Interfaith Encounter on 19th July 2006:

The Jerusalem youth group meet on July 19, and discussed a subject closely related to current affairs. Following the hijacking of the soldiers in Gaza and Lebanon and the issue of Palestinian prisoners in the Israeli prisons reemerging, we decided to discuss the subject of captives, especially those from another religion, in the eyes of the religion. Not through a direct political debate, but using deep intensive study of both sides' traditions.

We opened with some Jewish sources. We learned that Judaism does not have a formal warfare doctrine, most likely because along the greater part of Jewish history there was no Jewish army, and therefore no questions arose on this matter. In order to find precedents, one must go back to biblical times. The attitude towards captives in the Bible is usually not compassionate. Nonetheless, we learned that despite the Prophets' requests and guidance to the Kings of Israel not to spare the lives of the captives and to kill them, kings of Israel usually acted differently, and were compassionate and kind to their captives. For example, Prophet Samuel and King Saul, the first asking to kill the captives, while the second spared their lives and refused to kill them. Such incidents resulted in a stereotypic conception that the Israeli Kings are merciful and forgiving, a stereotype which caused their enemies to prefer to fall captive than to fight and die.

On the other hand, Islam is much more detailed on this subject and holds a formulated doctrine regarding the attitude towards captives, perhaps since large army campaigns accompanied the spreading of Islam.

Islam, through the teachings of Prophet Mohammad saw captives as people who are under the responsibility of the army thus requiring the army to provide them with food, protection and shelter. In spite of the clear and organized doctrine towards captives, there were exceptions carried out by Prophet Mohammad himself, such as executing captives. However, these incidents were usually punishments to traitors or criminal captives (equivalent to today's "war criminals").

We learned that sometimes, a clear and organized doctrine which instructs us how to act is not enough, but it is also important to act on it in the right way. We also learned that it is essential to live by our opinions and behave in a humane and merciful way, as King Saul when he disobeyed Prophet Samuel. As the Arabic proverb says: spare others the moment you become stronger.

Reported by Coordinators: Dotan Arad & Salah Aladdien


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