Muhammad The Liberator of Mankind — Page 9
Muhammadas the Liberator of Mankind they were viewed as necessary acts of self-defence. Every individual faced the prospect of being killed if they did not eliminate their adversaries, unless mutual reconcili- ation was achieved. Consequently, during wars between nations irrespective of the fact that they were on the right or wrong side of the war-or when reconciliation was unattainable, not only were enemies slain in battle, but even those captured after the conflict were often executed. In the context of that era, such actions were not considered objectionable but rather essential for self-protection, in accordance with prevailing moral standards. The only nations considered truly cruel were those targeting women and children. Following this period, a new era dawned, marked by an elevated standard of morality. Hence, distinctions were made based on the principle that only the instigator of anarchy should face retribution, while others could be spared if they posed no threat. This was because societal norms had yet to reach maturity, and governmental sys- tems were far less sophisticated than those of today. At that time, it was determined that in conflicts with other nations, soldiers should be captured and distributed among the citizens because the government lacked the resources to manage prisoners or construct prisons for them. Consequently, citizens were tasked with overseeing 9