Life-of-Muhammad

114Life of Muhammad saO ye who believe! when you go forth in the cause of Allah,make proper investigation and say not to anyone whogreets you with the greeting of peace, "Thou art not abeliever." You seek the goods of this life, but with Allahare good things in plenty. Such were you before this, butAllah conferred His favour on you; so do make properinvestigation. Surely, Allah is well aware of what you do.That is to say, when Muslims go out for war, they areto make sure that the unreasonableness of war has beenexplained to the enemy and that he still wants war.Even so, if a proposal of peace is received from anindividual or a group, Muslims are not to turn it downon the plea that it is not honest. If Muslims turn downproposals of peace, they will not be fighting for God, butfor self-aggrandizement and worldly gain. Just asreligion comes from God, worldly gain and glory alsocome from Him. Killing is not to be the aim. One whomwe wish to kill today may be guided tomorrow. CouldMuslims have become Muslims if they had not beenspared? Muslims are to abstain from killing becauselives spared may turn out to be lives guided. God is wellaware of what men do and to what ends and with whatmotives they do it.The verse teaches that even after war has begun, it isthe duty of Muslims to satisfy themselves that theenemy is bent upon aggression. It often happens that noaggression is intended but that out of excitement andfear the enemy has started preparations for war. UnlessMuslims are satisfied that an aggressive attack has beenplanned by the enemy, they are not to go to war. If itturns out, or if the enemy claims, that his preparationsare for self-defence, Muslims are to accept the claim anddesist from war. They are not to argue that the enemypreparations point to nothing but aggression; maybe heintended aggression, but his intention has changed. Arenot intentions and motives continually changing? Didnot enemies of Islam become friends?(6) On the inviolability of treaties the Qur’an saysclearly: