The Prophet (a.s) who had peacefully tried to propagate his Faith in Makkah

A ghazwah is a war or a battle in which the Prophet (a.s) himself participated. After the Annunciation, the Prophet (a.s) bore the hardships inflicted by the infidels of Makkah for thirteen long years. When he moved from Makkah to al-Madinah, he did not have any thought of wreaking revenge on the infidels and polytheists. But the Quraysh were working under the shame of defeat and failure and were very upset over the Prophet (a.s) escaping unscathed from Makkah. After rendering the Muslims of Makkah homeless, they were planning strategies to destroy Islam and finish the Movement once for all! They started putting together all their evil powers to achieve their ends. The Prophet (a.s) who had peacefully tried to propagate his Faith in Makkah and had struck agreements of peace with the Jewish Tribes of al-Madinah, wished that no opportunity arose for wars with the Quraysh that would mean unnecessary shedding of innocent blood. But the Quraysh wanted to destroy the peace and tranquility of the Muslims in al-Madinah by imposing wars over their heads. The Prophet (a.s) was left with no other choice than fighting in self-defense. Therefore, the Prophet (a.s) made no mention of waging wars and did not give permission to his men to take any precipitate action until the Quraysh and the Jews forced any such eventuality. Allah had given assent for jihad when the activities of the infidels crossed all limits of decency. Therefore, Allah says in the Holy Book:

“Those (the Muslims) against whom the Infidels fight, too have permission to battle, because hardships were inflicted on them, and Allah has the power to help them.

The fact is not hidden that the Infidels first forced the Muslims out of their homeland and attacked their homes to annihilate them. In these circumstances if war was not declared against them, their very existence would have been in jeopardy. No doubt, Islam is the custodian of peace and tranquility, but it does not mean that it wants people to stoically face all the tyrannies endlessly. The Muslims had to exercise their right to fight for their own safety and tranquility. In the circumstances, they were left with no other choice than rising to the occasion and preparing to combat the enemy. If war is an

abhorrent activity, the responsibility for the consequences rests on the shoulders of the aggressors. One who clashes with the enemy in self-defense can never be blamed for the consequences of the conflict.

The word ‘Islam’ has its root in the word ‘Salamah’ that means ‘Peace’. It is evident from the very name that the Religion, of Islam, stands for peace and tranquility. It shows that Islam is opposed to bloodshed and conflict. Islam makes no difference of race and color and is opposed to any forced annexation of territory. It permits war only in two situations: the first is when the enemy wages a war of aggression and attacks Muslims and without warfare there is no way of protecting the lives and property of the Muslims. Secondly, if there is positive evidence of the enemy making warlike preparations and any neglect might cause irreparable damage to lives and properties of the Muslims. In both circumstances, when waging war became unavoidable, the Prophet (a.s) gave his assent for it. The Muslims clashed with the Infidels once at the wells of Badr then at the foot of the hills at Uhud. Sometimes they defended themselves from within the bounds of al-Madinah. All these theatres of war were geographically close to the Dar al-Islam, al-Madinah and very far from the Dar al-Kufr of those days, Makkah. This proves that all these campaigns by the Muslims were solely in self-defense. If Muslims had aggressive designs, these battles would have been fought nearer the homes of the Infidels! They were all the preemptive and planned attacks of the Infidel Enemy! Only the Battle of Khaybar was fought away from the Islamic Base and closer to the stronghold of the Jews. But the truth is that they were exiled from al-Madinah for intriguing against the Muslims and raising men and materials to wage a war against them. If the Prophet (a.s) had not initiated preemptive action, they were about to attack al-Madinah with immense power of men and materials.

Although Islam has given permission of waging wars in unavoidable circumstances, there are strict norms about the various stages like the outbreak, the action in the actual theater and the aftermath of the wars! At every stage, they have to keep in mind the ultimate aim of peace and tranquility. Before any warlike activity, they have to invite the opponents to Islam or Peace! The opponents must be informed that the purpose of the conflict is not shedding unnecessary blood and causing loss of property and making slaves and prisoners out of children, women and men. Islam also prohibits harming women, children and maimed and injured men. Therefore, in the Battle of Hunayn, when Khalid ibn al-Walid killed a woman, the Prophet (a.s) expressed his disapproval of the act and ordered him not to

commit any such act in the future. Once talking to the troops, the Prophet (a.s) said that they must take care to see that the women and children of the infidels were not harmed during the war. Someone said that they were the children of the polytheists and they deserve to be killed. The Prophet (a.s) said,” Are not many of you good persons not the offspring of the infidels?” Islam never permits causing obstruction to the flow of essentials like food and water even for the troops of the enemy. It also bans destruction of enemy property like gardens, farms and buildings. Similarly, it abhors sadistic severing of the body parts of the fallen enemies. This was one of the heinous practices of the Days of Ignorance in Arabia. Islam abolished this nefarious practice! Islam also laid down norms for the treatment of the prisoners of war. It also established norms for collecting reparations (fidyah) and releasing them honorably. If circumstances required keeping them under detention, norms were there for their proper treatment during the incarceration. Even if they were to be kept as slaves, the treatment had to be very humane.

It cannot be denied that after the Prophet of Islam (a.s), Muslims had waged some wars of aggression and expansion when the norms of jihad were overlooked. While one group championed the acts of terror and suppression as their right, they thought that victory, wealth and pelf acquired through such wars was Rightful! But Islam neither approves of such wars nor is it responsible for such atrocious acts! Islam has declared in clear terms: “There is no aggression in the Faith!” All the Verses that have been revealed in the Holy Qur’an concerning jihad are about the circumstances when the enemy forcefully tries to suppress and crush the Muslims. Islam neither permits aggressive warlike initiatives nor does it allow forcing its thoughts on others cruelly. The responsibility of the wars is always on the kings and emperors who, for self-aggrandizement and craving for wealth, plundered innocent peoples and caused untold hardship to huge human populations. These acts gave an opportunity to some people to blame Islam that it was spread with the strength of the sword!

After these introductory sentences, we shall describe the ghazawat that were fought by the Prophet (a.s) that highlight the defensive aspect of these battles and at the same time illustrate the prowess and valor of the Standard Bearer of Islam and the Victor of the Battles, `Ali (a.s).He set such high standards in his conduct of the warfare that he never chased a combatant running away from the theatre, he never harmed women and children, never killed an injured opponent and never stripped an enemy as was the practice during the battles of those times!