Life-of-Muhammad

Life of Muhammad sa 111Categorically, we may say, the verses teach thefollowing rules:(i) War is to be resorted to only for the sake of Godand not for the sake of any selfish motives, not foraggrandizement or for the advancement of any otherinterests.(ii) We can go to war only against one who attacks usfirst.(iii) We can fight only those who fight against us. Wecannot fight against those who take no part in warfare.(iv) Even after the enemy has initiated the attack, itis our duty to keep warfare within limits. To extend thewar, either territorially or in respect of weapons used, iswrong.(v) We are to fight only a regular army charged by theenemy to fight on his side. We are not to fight others onthe enemy side.(vi) In warfare immunity is to be afforded to allreligious rites and observances. If the enemy spares theplaces where religious ceremonies are held, thenMuslims also must desist from fighting in such places.(vii) If the enemy uses a place of worship as a basefor attack, then Muslims may return the attack. Noblame will attach to them if they do so. No fighting isallowed even in the neighbourhood of religious places.To attack religious places and to destroy them or to doany kind of harm to them is absolutely forbidden. Areligious place used as a base of, operations may invite acounter-attack. The responsibility for any harm done tothe place will then rest with the enemy, not withMuslims.(viii) If the enemy realizes the danger and the mistakeof using a religious place as a base, and changes thebattle-front, then Muslims must conform to the change.The fact that the enemy started the attack from areligious place is not to be used as an excuse forattacking that place. Out of reverence Muslims mustchange their battle-front as soon as the enemy does so.