Understanding Islam — Page 33
33 other parties. As the accepted leader of Mad ī nah, sometimes Prophet Muhammad sa would have to deal with individuals or groups who had breached the covenant, or who were involved in wrongdoing. Such cases of infractions were adjudicated in fairness, following the provisions of the treaty of Madinah. If a so-called Muslim terrorist organization or any Muslim government, acts against these principles of true justice and equality, it must be clearly understood that they are doing so only to fulfil their own personal or political interests. Even if they claim to act in the name of Islam, the explicit truth is that their dastardly actions have no basis whatsoever in Islam or the teachings of Prophet Muhammad sa. If one studies the early Islamic history in a fair, and unbiased manner, one will see that during the early era of the life of Prophet Muhammad sa and during the period of his four Rightly Guided Khulaf ā ’, the behaviour of the Muslims was impeccable. They were never the aggressor in any battle; nor did they ever seek to conquer land under a policy of materialistic expansionism.