The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 83
II - Commencement of Jihād by the Sword & Fundamental Discussion on Jihād 83 17. The Holy Prophet sa preferred fighting in the morning hours and would stop when the heat intensified, and then commanded the resumption of fighting in the late afternoon. 1 18. Prior to fighting, the Holy Prophet sa would personally arrange his ranks, and greatly disliked irregularity therein. 19. There were generally two kinds of flags in the Muslim army, the first was white, which was tied to a staff, etc. and referred to as the Liwā’. The second one was usually black, which was tied to a staff, etc. and would wave in the air. This one was referred to as the Rāyah. In battle, both of these flags were given into the care of specially selected individuals. 20. For every battle, the Holy Prophet sa would generally appoint a watchword, in order to distinguish between friend and foe. 21. Noise and confusion was disliked among the ranks, and it was instructed that work be performed very silently. 2 22. Prior to battle the Holy Prophet sa would appoint commanders over the various companies of the Muslim army and would specify their positions and explain their duties. The general principle kept in mind when appointing these commanders was to appoint such individuals over a company, who were considered to be influential among them. 23. On rare occasions, it was a practice of the Holy Prophet sa to take a special Bai‘at 3 from the Companions. As such, the Bai‘at taken at the Treaty of Ḥudaibiyyah has been alluded to in the Holy Qur’ān. 24. In the field of battle, the Holy Prophet sa instructed not to commence fighting until he ordered to do so. 25. Even during the course of war the Holy Prophet sa would issue special orders every so often, and would either announce them himself or through a Companion who commanded a resonating voice. 26. The Muslims were absolutely prohibited from fleeing or laying 1 * Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Fī Ayyi Waqtin Yastaḥabbul-Liqā’u, Ḥadīth No. 2655 * Sunanut-Tirmidhī, Kitābus-Siyar, Bābu Mā Jā’a Fis-Sā‘atillatī Yustaḥabbu Fīhal-Qitāl, Ḥadīth No. 1612 2 Sunanu Abī Dāwūd, Kitābul-Jihād, Bābu Fīmā Yu’maru Bihī Minaṣ-Ṣamti ‘Indal-Liqā’, Ḥadīth No. 2656-2657 3 Initiation of Allegiance [Publishers]