Through Force or Faith? — Page 72
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 72 in submission; or if you submit and surrender to Islam without the war, that is acceptable too; all your rights shall be safeguarded. Thus, this allegation is absolutely false that, God forbid, it was some kind of a threat. No matter how it is taken, it was the implementation of the injunction that you have to strive to establish peace till such time that religion becomes totally for God. Everyone has to be given religious freedom. History bears witness how, during wars, he tended the vanquished and how he exhorted others to do so. He even said that no treachery should be used in war. His attacks were also carried out in broad daylight. Instruction was not to kill a child, not to kill a woman, not to kill priests and religious leaders, not to kill elderly, more precisely not to harm anyone who does not raise a sword even if he is young and able. Terror and harassment is not to be created in the coun- try at war with you. When the armies have to camp during war, they should camp at such places that would not inconvenience people. He admonished that anyone who does not observe these guidelines, his fight will not be for the sake of God but will be for the sake of his own ego. And, the wars that are fought for personal egos comprise nothing but tyranny and transgression. Thus, it is to stop the tyranny and transgression and to promote peace that there is this command that every action of yours should be for the sake of God. Look at the height of humanistic compassion. While giving instructions, he admonishes not to smite the enemy on the face; try to minimize the losses to the enemy; ensure the comfort of the prisoners. Perhaps it was reported by a prisoner of the Battle of Badr that the house where he was incarcerated, its household survived on dates but gave him bread. Even if a child found some