The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 80
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 80 circumstances. For this purpose, the Holy Prophet sa would draw lots, and the wife whose name was selected would accompany him. 10. It was a general practice of the Holy Prophet sa that whenever he would receive news that an enemy tribe was preparing to wage an attack against the Muslims, he would preempt their design in an attempt to prevent the attack. The Holy Prophet sa would not allow the enemy to fully prepare whilst continuing to wait for an attack; and then fight back after the attack was practically executed. Moreover, the Holy Prophet sa would make an effort for the Muslim army to arrive unexpectedly, while the enemy was unaware. Due to these strategies, the Holy Prophet sa was able to protect the Muslims from many hardships. 11. Whenever the Holy Prophet sa would dispatch a company, upon their departure, he would advise them to present three options before the enemy upon encountering them. If they were to accept any one of the three options, then they should accept it from them and halt the course of battle. First and foremost, they were to invite them to Islām and if they became Muslim then urge them to migrate. If they did not agree to migrate, then to allow them to remain Muslim and stay in their homes. However, if they refused to become Muslims altogether, then to allow them to remain upon their religion, but call them to abstain from hostility and war against the Muslims and submit to the Islāmic State. If the people refused to accept this as well, then they were permitted to fight them. 1 12. Furthermore, when the Holy Prophet sa would dispatch a company, he would admonish them saying: اُغْزُوْا بِسْم ِ اللّٰه ِ فِی ْ سَبِیْل ِ اللّٰه ِ قَاتِلُوْا مَن ْ کَفَر َ بِاللّٰه ِ اُغْزُوْا وَلَا تَغُلُّوا وَلَا ِ تَغْدِرُوْا وَلَا تُمَثِّلُوْا وَلَا تَقْتُلُوْا وَلِیْدًا وَلَا امْرَاٴة ً وَلَا تَقْتُلُوْا اَصْحَاب َ الصَّوَامِع وَلَا تَقْتُلُوْا شَیْخًا فَانِیًا وَلَا طِفْلًا وَلَا صَغِیْرا ً وَلَا امْرَاٴة ً وَاَصْلِحُوْا وَاَحْسِنُوْا 1 * Ṣaḥīḥu Muslim, Kitābul-Jihād Was-Siyar, Bābu Ta’mīril-Imāmil-Umarā’a ‘Alal-Bu‘ūth, Ḥadīth No. 4522 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Du‘ā’il-Mushrikīn, Ḥadīth 2612