Today, we study the tradition of the Prophet of Islam, Mohammad (Blessings of God upon him and his progeny), throughout battles.

The prophecy of Prophet Mohammad was based on kindness and forgiveness, such that he kindly treated polytheists and People of the Book as long as the divine beliefs and boundaries were not harmed. To this end, the Prophet of Islam adopted approaches such as sending propagators; holding talks; writing letters to heads of state; concluding peace treaties with the tribes of polytheists and People of the Book; and allocating part of the war spoils to new converts to Islam. The then community faced innumerable problems. The structure of power was based on the tribal system and the traditions and beliefs of the Age of Ignorance deeply impacted the minds and behavioral patterns of the people of that age. Hence, Prophet of Islam, at times, faced major hurdles in promotion of sacred religion of Islam, including the military confrontations of disbelievers against the Prophet and Muslims. At times, these conditions forced the Prophet to go to war against leading disbelievers. Meanwhile, the prophet hood of Prophet Mohammad led him to even make use of the moments in the battlefield to promote humane and Islamic values, to negate polytheism, and to wipe out ignorance and superstitions from the mindsets of individuals. When the insistent enemies fully equipped their forces and attacked Muslims, the Prophet of Islam thought of familiarizing them with the truth of sacred religion of Islam.

Undoubtedly, one of the intentions of Prophet Mohammad was to guide and reform the misguided. If he could achieve this goal via a calm and peaceful approach, he never chose to confront them. For instance, in the Battle of Bani Qaynaqah, prior to confronting Jews, the Prophet of Islam gathered them in the marketplace and told them: “Be scared of God; so that what happened to Qoraish; would not happen to you. Convert to Islam to be safe. You know that I am the Messenger of God, and you have found this fact in your books.”

In the Battle of Khaybar, when the Prophet handed over the command of the Muslim troops to the Commander of the Faithful, Imam Ali (Peace be upon him), the Prophet addressed Imam Ali, telling him: “Move slowly to near them. Then invite them to Islam and inform them about the rights that God has bestowed upon them.”

The Prophet of Islam was committed to ethical virtues in the battlefields; an example of which was the event which took place in the Battle of Badr. In this battle, Muslims reached Badr’s wells, sooner. However, upon the Prophet’s instruction, they allowed their enemies to freely access water. Forgiveness of the prisoners of war was one of the ethical virtues of the Prophet of Islam in battles. Avoidance of bloodshed and declaration of public clemency in the conquest of Mecca are clear examples of the respectful treatment of enemies by the Prophet of Islam, for the sake of guidance of foes. Whenever the Prophet was forced to go to war, he urged his troops to comply with a number of principles. Firstly, he called on Muslim troops to invite the enemies to sacred religion of Islam, and if they didn’t accept, call on them to live under the shelter of Muslims and to pay tax to Muslims. However, if the enemies insisted on battling Muslims, he instructed Muslim troops not to attack civilians, not to cut trees, and not to destroy houses and farmlands.

The Prophet was highly committed to compliance with treaties. If Muslims concluded a peace and amity agreement with a tribe, they fully abided by that agreement. However, if in some cases a tribe violated the related peace treaty, the Prophet also found no reason to remain committed to that agreement, and announced this issue to them. Even in some cases, the Prophet avoided staging sudden attacks. Meanwhile, in the Age of Ignorance, usually battles started at the break of dawn. However, for the pillage of a tribe, nightly and sudden attacks were staged. The Prophet of Islam was against such dastardly confrontations.

In the battles which are waged in cities and residential regions, usually women, children, and vulnerable individuals are endangered. Islamic ethics rule Muslim troops not to harm these civilians. Confrontation against these individuals is only allowed if they take up arms with the intention of killing Muslim soldiers.

The continued instructions of the Prophet of Islam, which forbid harming the vulnerable individuals, show the righteous path and the elevated spirit of Prophet Mohammad. The Prophet never neglected ethical virtues in the battlefields against the enemies of God. He maintained unique courage in the battlefield. However, his behavior was different to that of other warriors. Thus, at times, the enemies who confronted the Prophet in the battlefield admired his Quranic behavior. Based on historical reports, the foes of Prophet Mohammad have on several occasions admitted to his ethical virtues.

One of the other topics which the Prophet emphasized was not harming those who had been forced to battle Muslim troops. Based on the rules and regulations of the Age of Ignorance, participation of tribal men in the battle was compulsory. However, some of the wealthy figures, who didn’t want to take part in wars, paid some other individuals to take part in battles on their behalf. The Prophet of Islam had ordered Muslim troops not to kill these individuals, who were forced to participate in battlefields against Muslims.

One of the principles which the Prophet emphasized in battles was the immunity of couriers. Note that murder of couriers was common among

Arab tribes. However, the Prophet of Islam instructed Muslims not to kill the enemy couriers. Throughout the Hodaibieh Peace Treaty, three leading Meccan figures approached the Prophet of Islam to convey the message of Qoraish leaders, meeting and negotiating with the Prophet of Islam and Muslims in complete safety. One of the leading figures of Taef, named Urvat ibn Masoud Saqafi, in these meetings, highly admired the ethical virtues of Prophet Mohammad. He later converted to Islam and asked for the permission of the Prophet to go to Taef to invite his relatives and associates to sacred religion of Islam. Upon the Prophet’s permission, he headed for Taef, and invited his associated to convert to sacred religion of Islam. However, the residents of Taef opposed and martyred him.

Battlefield is the scene of confrontation. Amid battles, any party tests its military capacity. If in the battle, a failure takes place or victory is achieved, the enemies should not be insulted. The sacred religion of Islam has always put emphasis on ethical virtues, and shouting profanities has always been negated by Islamic teachings.

When the Prophet resided in Mecca, enemies brazenly insulted him; hurled stones at him; and persecuted him. However, the Prophet of Islam never made an imprudent remark. Despite the crimes committed by polytheists against Muslims and Prophet’s associates, the Prophet of Islam always complied with ethical virtues.

MR/ME