When you meet in a regular battle: Quranic verse

The Holy Quran : Chapter 47: Muhammad

[47:5] And when you meet in regular battle those who disbelieve, smite their necks; and, when you have overcome them, by causing great slaughter among them, bind fast the fetters - then afterwards either release them as a favour or by taking ransom - until the war lays down its burdens. That is the ordinance. And if Allah had so pleased, He could have punished them Himself, but He has willed that He may try some of you by others. And those who are killed in the way of Allah - He will never render their works vain.

http://www3.alislam.org/showChapter.jsp?ch=47

One should note always to understand a verse with its context. Sometimes people only mention a syllable and hence misunderstand the sentence. I would like such people to adopt the right approach and always read some versed before and after the verse they want to understand. That would be a wise and peaceful approach.

This verse mentions of Jehad in the way of Allah and its central theme. First it is mentioned that those tribes who had waged war againts the believers; they are to be subdued, arrested and and bound vigouriously but not harmed bodily; till such time that the war gets finished. When the war is finished then the Prisoners of War are to be released, after taking ransom if they could pay it; and if they cannot pay it even then they are to be set free without the ransom money on humanitarian basis, and that is appreciated and is considere a virtue.

Those who maintain that the concept of Islamic war is to convert others to Islam forcibly are totally wrong and their thinking is refuted here; this verse rejects their contention. This was the proper time when it should have been instructed to convert these POWs to Islam but there is no such instruction to do. This verse does not mention. On the other hand it rather says that they who had been subdued and arrested should be released, even if they don’t pay any ransom.

Now I give hereunder the verse in a connected context:

[47:1] In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

[47:2] Those who disbelieve and hinder men from the way of Allah - He renders their works vain.

[47:3] But as for those who believe and do righteous deeds and believe in that which has been revealed to Muhammad - and it is the truth from their Lord - He removes from them their sins and sets right their affairs.

[47:4] That is because those who disbelieve follow falsehood while those who believe follow the truth from their Lord. Thus does Allah set forth for men their lessons by similitudes.

[47:5] And when you meet in regular battle those who disbelieve, smite their necks; and, when you have overcome them, by causing great slaughter among them, bind fast the fetters - then afterwards either release them as a favour or by taking ransom - until the war lays down its burdens. That is the ordinance. And if Allah had so pleased, He could have punished them Himself, but He has willed that He may try some of you by others. And those who are killed in the way of Allah - He will never render their works vain.

[47:6] He will guide them to success and will improve their condition.

[47:7] And will admit them into the Garden which He has made known to them.

[47:8] O ye who believe! if you help the cause of Allah, He will help you and will make your steps firm.

[47:9] But those who disbelieve, perdition is their lot; and He will make their works vain.

[47:10] That is because they hate what Allah has revealed; so He has made their works vain.

http://www3.alislam.org/showChapter.jsp?ch=47

One could see that the POWs are dealt with humanly and rationally as per the prevalent world conventions, rather better than that.

Thanks

I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim