Muhammad the kindred to Humanity — Page 23
23 earn the wrath of Allah. What a high regard for justice and fair dealing this is !. Respect for Feelings of the Enemy. The inculcation of fair dealing with the enemy is equally wonderful. We are taught to act justly even in time of war. If anybody wrongs us we are allowed to wrong him to an equal extent but not more, and if the party show the slightest inclination for peace we are expected to call off the dispute, even though the issue is likely to be decided in our favour. The practical effect of this teaching is writ large on the pages of history. Not a single instance is known to history of Muslims having rejected an offer of peace. The draft of the peace of Hudaibiya was being dictated by the Prophet, and Ali, the scribe wrote, "The conditions of peace between Muhammad the Prophet of God,. But the disbelievers took exception to the words, "Prophet of God. " The Prophet, accordingly, ordered. Ali to cross out the words. But Ali did not do so, whereupon the Prophet himself took the pen and crossed out the objectionable words. He might not have done so at all. . He might have replied, for instance, that the words in question were being recorded over his own name. They were his, and the enemy were not being asked to subscribe to them. But the Prophet was mindful of the enemy's feelings and wanted peace before everything else. and. . . . . . . Solicitude for the Oppressed ". At the advent of the Prophet, there were three classes of people who were being particularly mal-treated. . These were the slaves, the women and the depressed classes. He brought freedom to them all. . And why not? "Hard it was for him to bear others' distress. '. He could not possibly have tolerated the tyranny and torture to which these classes were being subjected. So not until he had freed them all did he rest. When killing of slaves was considered nothing heinous, he ordered that slaves who were mal-treated shall be set free. Further, the