Understanding Islam — Page 104
DID THE EARLY MUSLIMS LEAD OFFENSIVE RAIDS? 102 narrated that when the Prophet Muhammad sa heard of this, he said: I have not given you permission to fight in the Sacred Month. 6 This is in reference to a confusion the Muslims had at the time of the attack. Some thought that it was a sacred month according to ancient Arabian custom that makes fighting unlawful, while others believed that it was not a sacred month and fighting is permitted. This statement of Prophet Muhammad sa makes it clear that from the very beginning, he had no desire nor intention for any attack on a caravan. It is also recorded that Prophet Muhammad sa was so displeased that he refused to accept the spoils. 7 This fact further refutes all the faulty conclusions of the critics. If Prophet Muhammad sa was a man who “raided” caravans (God forbid!) just to get their spoils, he should have gladly accepted the spoils from this group and encouraged them to continue such actions. His refusal to accept the spoils and the consequent remorse and embarrassment felt by the Muslims demonstrates the care with which Muslims