The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) – Volume III — Page 26
Seal of the Prophets - Volume III 26 basis of ignorance and short-sightedness. In war, to hide one’s movement and transport from the enemy, or to devise an appropriate plan to produce successful results, is not only a completely lawful action, but with respect to the art of war, it is extremely necessary and incumbent. If a general does not employ such tactics, he cannot be referred to as the possessor of high moral character, but he will definitely be referred to as a foolish general of the lowest degree, who does not even possess the knowledge of elementary and principle tactics of war. I am confident that if the Holy Prophet sa had not employed such tactics of war, and had openly administered tactics meant to be kept secret during wars instead, the very same people who object would allege that the Holy Prophet sa was completely oblivious to the art of war and fully deprived of the quality of superior strategic planning. This is not mere conjecture. As a matter of fact, various non-Muslim historians have raised similar allegations upon the apparent failure of various Islāmic expeditions. They assert that on certain occasions when Muslims arrived at the settlement of an enemy and the enemy had already dispersed due to prior notice, this proved that there was a lack of strategic planning in the Islāmic expeditions. In actuality, for something of this nature to occur in an expedition does not constitute a lack of strategic planning. It only proves that the enemy was also intelligent and vigilant in its own right, and that despite the intelligence and vigilance of the Muslims, the enemy would at times act mischievously and succeed in their mischief. However, even so, the conclusive outcome was still in the favour of Islām. This mindset of the opponents of Islām proves nothing other than the fact that they predetermine to raise objections in all circumstances. In other words, if the Muslims demonstrated vigilance and superior strategic planning, it is alleged that Islām promoted teachings of deceit and trickery. If on the other hand, (the Muslims) ever became the target of the enemy’s prudence and trickery, it is alleged that there was a lack of vigilance and superior strategic planning in Islām. There is none who possesses the cure to such a mentality, except God Himself. It is fortunate however, that such ignorant allegations are only levelled by ignorant people and those of the lower class. Wise people recognise and admit that a true religion is one which, along with spiritual advancement, also sharpens the intellect of man; and that along with truth and honesty, the founder of Islām was an embodiment of superior strategic planning.