War is part of humanity arising from inability to effectively manage conflicts. This always leads to armed struggle between nations or even within nations and results in taking of captives. This work is focused on the treatment of captives under the Islamic Law and International Humanitarian Law. The two systems, (Islamic and International Humanitarian Laws) though borne out of different sources, circumstances, time and space, are similar in provisions and objectives. The United Nations Charter/Universal Declarations on Human Rights could be said to be a replica of the principles of Shariah regarding the dignity of war captives. This work examines i. the provisions of the laws on treatment of war captives under the Islamic and International Humanitarian Laws; ii. the adequacy or otherwise of the laws dealing with war captives; and iii. the enforceability of the laws relating to the treatment of war captives in the two systems;

Dr. Abdul-lateef Owoade is a Legal Practitioner, with teaching, research and consulting experience in the areas of law practice of corporate management, Islamic International Law, International Humanitarian Law and Islamic Constitutional Law. He earned his Ph. D. in Law from the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.