Muhammad: Seal of the Prophets — Page 176
MUHAMMAD : SEAL OF THE PROPHETS 176 the comfort of others in marching or camping would be deprived of his reward in respect of his jihad. 16. When the Holy Prophet encountered the enemy in the field of battle, he always supplicated the Divine before the commencement of the fighting. 17. He preferred fighting during the forenoon, and stopped fighting during the heat of the day and resumed it in the late afternoon. 18. Before a battle, he himself arranged his forces in battle order and resented any kind of irregularity or confusion. 19. An Islamic force generally carried two standards, one white which was rolled around a staff and was called Liwa; the second was generally black which floated from a staff and was called Raya. In battle, these standards were committed to the care of selecte d individuals. 20. The Holy Prophet appointed a password for his forces before a battle, which helped to distinguish between friend and foe. 21. He disliked noise or confusion among the ranks and called for silent and diligent performance of duty. 22. Before a battle the Holy Prophet appointed emirs over different groups of his forces who were clearly instructed in their duties. In selecting these company commanders he kept in mind the consideration that