TexasDevilDog
01-31-2005, 09:31 AM
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=58273&d=31&m=1&y=2005
No Fighting Before Explaining Islam
Adil Salahi, Arab News
During the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) lifetime the Muslim community had to fight many battles, because there were several sources of danger and many opponents who were keen to suppress the rising voice of the Islamic message. The Prophet made sure that in none of these battles the Muslims would exceed the limits of what is lawful in Islam. The important point to remember is that Islam is a message of guidance for all mankind, which does not aim to achieve supremacy for any nation, community, or ethnic or religious group. All that it is concerned with is that people should be able to exercise their right to receive divine guidance and to decide whether to accept it or not. Free choice on the basis of informed conviction is an inalienable right of every human being. When the Muslim community had to fight these battles, the Prophet was keen to explain to his soldiers and their commanders that their task was only to fight when there is no other way to deal with enemies.
Never during the Prophet’s time did the Muslim community plan to attack any group or to take them unawares. Only when the Prophet received intelligence that a particular tribe or grouping were planning to attack the Muslims did he take countermeasures to ensure that the danger they represented is forestalled. But even when he took such measures, he would not launch an attack without alerting the enemy and calling on them to accept Islam and live in peace with the Muslim state.
This is from Arab News, not some crack pot web site. This is main stream moderate Islam.
No Fighting Before Explaining Islam
Adil Salahi, Arab News
During the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) lifetime the Muslim community had to fight many battles, because there were several sources of danger and many opponents who were keen to suppress the rising voice of the Islamic message. The Prophet made sure that in none of these battles the Muslims would exceed the limits of what is lawful in Islam. The important point to remember is that Islam is a message of guidance for all mankind, which does not aim to achieve supremacy for any nation, community, or ethnic or religious group. All that it is concerned with is that people should be able to exercise their right to receive divine guidance and to decide whether to accept it or not. Free choice on the basis of informed conviction is an inalienable right of every human being. When the Muslim community had to fight these battles, the Prophet was keen to explain to his soldiers and their commanders that their task was only to fight when there is no other way to deal with enemies.
Never during the Prophet’s time did the Muslim community plan to attack any group or to take them unawares. Only when the Prophet received intelligence that a particular tribe or grouping were planning to attack the Muslims did he take countermeasures to ensure that the danger they represented is forestalled. But even when he took such measures, he would not launch an attack without alerting the enemy and calling on them to accept Islam and live in peace with the Muslim state.
This is from Arab News, not some crack pot web site. This is main stream moderate Islam.