Unity of God — Page 34
34 Hazrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Deen Mahmood Ahmad the Holy Prophet s as prohibited this practice. It is recorded in the Holy Quran: 15 ٍ سَو َٓاء تَخَافَنَّ مِنۡ قَوۡمٍ خِیَانَۃً فَانۢۡبِذۡ اِلَیۡہِمۡ عَلٰی وَاِمَّا That is, if a people with whom Muslims have entered into an agreement dishonour it, they should be notified that the agreement has been annulled. Under no circumstances are Muslims permitted to make a surprise attack [but if attacked, Muslims are permitted to retaliate]. When Abu Sufyan came from Makkah to renew the Treaty 16 with Muslims, the Holy Prophet s as could have chosen not to disclose his intention and launch a surprise attack against the enemy. But by replying, ‘Abu Sufyan, you have agreed to renew this treaty, not I’, the Holy Prophet s as gave him prior notice of the measures to follow. Nowadays, if a country plans to attack another, it often announces that it has good relations with that country. This was the case with Italy when it announced that it was on good terms with Turkey just 15 Sūrah Al-Anf ā l, 8:59: ‘And if thou fearest treachery from a people, throw back to them their covenant with equity. ’ [Publishers] 16 Refers to the flagrant breach of the Treaty of Hudaybiya by the Makkans who instigated the war. [Publishers]