Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 335
— Part III 328 it is irrelevant whether the party with which you are bound in a treaty is weak or powerful, righteous or evil. You will have to keep your vows in every respect as a basic principle. The importance of any treaty with idolaters is exactly the same as with anyone else. However, if such signs appear as indicate their intended breach of treaty even to the extent that they secretly prepare a surprise attack—you are still not permitted to attack them. In defence, however, you can also make all preparations to defend yourselves against them when attacked. The following verse also throws light on the same situation. And if you fear treachery from a people, throw back to them their covenant with equity. Surely, Allah loves not the treacherous. (S u rah al-Anf a l; Ch. 8: V. 59) The example set by the Holy Prophet sa also corroborates this. Not even once did he violate his part of the treaty due to the fear that the enemy would break his part. As long as the enemy did not practically violate a treaty, the Holy Prophet sa did not do so in response. However, he was always prepared for such an extreme eventuality; so the enemy could never spring a surprise upon the Muslims.