Introduction:
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was unequivocally the greatest peacemaker the world has ever seen. Islam is the religion of peace and the Prophet (PBUH) of Islam was the prophet of peace and safety. He always preferred conciliatory efforts, diplomatic channels, and compromising tactics over waging wars that resulted in huge losses of human life and property. All of his wars were motivated by self-defense and were limited in nature.
Establishment of peace by Prophet (PBUH)
Unification of Warring Tribes of Aws and Khazraj into the Ansars of Medina thus ending their longtime internal strife and animosity.
Establishment of Brotherhood (622) between Ansars of Medina and Muhajirins of Makkah.
He courted the ever conspiring Jews of Medina by means of the celebrated Mithaq-i-Medina (622) wherein he not only effected peaceful settlement but also set an example for the successive Muslim rulers who followed his exemplary treatment toward religious minorities.
Treaty of Hudiabiya (628) famously known as Peace of Hudiabiya in which he accepted the harsh terms and condition of the Quraish but averted the war.
Diplomatic Efforts of the Prophet (PBUH) (629): he sent his ambassadors with his letters to the foreign leaders to convince them to join the fold of Islam.
Conquest of Makkah (630) during the conquest he declared amnesty for all including those who inflicted harsh treatment to him and his followers when he was at Makkah.
Wufud Delegations (630) after the conquest of Makkah he received a number of delegations and convinced them to accept Islam through his diplomatic activities and successful negotiations.
Hajjat al-Wada (632) in his last sermon he abolished all the previous bloodshed and vendetta. The Prophet (PBUH) declared:
"Behold! All practices of paganism and ignorance are now under my feet. The blood revenge of the Days of Ignorance (pre Islamic time) are remitted".
LAW OF WAR AND PEACE IN ISLAM:
The rules which have been framed by Islam to make war civilized and humane, are of the nature of law, because they are the injunctions of God and His Prophet (PBUH) which are followed by Muslims in all circumstances, irrespective of the behaviour of the enemy.
A. Rights of Non-Combatants:
Islam has first drawn a clear line of distinction between the combatants and the non combatants of the enemy country. As far as the non-combatant population is concerned such as the women, the children, the old and the infirm, etc., the instructions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) are as follows:
"Do not kill any old person, any child or any woman" (Abu Dawud)
"Do not kill the people who are sitting in places of worship" (Musnad of Ibn Hanbal)
B. Rights of Combatants:
Now let us see what rights Islam has conferred on the combatants.
i. Torture with Fire Prohibited:
In the Hadith there is a saying of the Prophet (PBUH) that: "Punishment by fire does not behove anyone except the Master of the Fire" (Abu Dawud).
ii. Protection of the Wounded:
"Do not attack a wounded person"-thus said the Prophet (PBUH).
iii. The Prisoner of War Should not be Slain:
"No prisoner should be put to the sword"-a very dear and unequivocal instruction given by the Prophet (PBUH).
iv. No one should be Tied to be killed:
"The Prophet (PBUH) has prohibited the killing of anyone who is tied or is in captivity."
v. No Looting and Destruction in Enemy's Country:
Muslims have also been instructed by the Prophet (PBUH) that if they should enter the enemy's territory, they should not indulge in pillage or plunder nor destroy the residential areas, nor touch the property of anyone except those who are fighting with them. It has been narrated in the Hadith:
"The Prophet (PBUH) has prohibited the Believers from loot and plunder". (Bukhari)
“The loot is no more lawful than the carrion" (Abu Dawud)
vi. Sanctity of Property:
The Muslims have also been prohibited from taking anything from the general public of a conquered country without paying for it in a war the Muslim army occupies an area of the enemy country, and is encamped there it does not have the right to use the things belonging to the people without their consent If they need anything, they should purchase it from the local population or should obtain permission from the owners. Abu Bakr Siddiq, while instructing to Muslim armies being dispatched to the battlefront would go to the extent of saying that Muslim soldiers should not even use the milk of the milch cattle without the permission of their owners.
vii. Sanctity of Dead Body:
Islam has categorically prohibited its followers from disgracing or mutilating the corpses of their enemies as was practiced in Arabia before the advent of Islam. It has been said in the Hadith:
"The Prophet has prohibited us from mutilating the corpses of the enemies". (Bukhari; Abo Dawud)
The occasion on which this order was given is highly instructive. In the battle of Uhud the disbelievers mutilated the bodies of the Muslims who had fallen on the battlefield and sacrificed their lives for the sake of Islam, by cutting off their ears and noses, and threading them together to put round their necks as trophies of war. The abdomen of Hamza (570-625), the uncle of the Prophet (PBUH), was ripped open by Quraish; his liver was taken out and chewed by Hinda, the wife of Abu Sufyan (560-650), the leader of the Makkan army. The Muslims were naturally engaged by this horrible sight. But the Prophet (PBUH) asked his followers not to mete out similar treatment to the dead bodies of the enemies.
viii. Return of Corpses of the Enemy:
In the Battle of Ahzab very renowned and redoubtable warrior of the enemy was killed and his body fell down in the trench which the Muslims had dug for the defense of Medina. The unbelievers offered ten thousand dinars to the Prophet and requested that the dead body of their fallen warrior may be handed over to them. The Prophet (PBUH) replied "I do not sell dead bodies. You can take away the corpse of your fallen comrade"
C. Prohibition of Breach of Treaties:
Islam has strictly prohibited treachery. One of the instructions that the Prophet (PBUH) used to give to the Muslim warriors while sending them to the battlefront.
D. Rules about Declaration of War:
"And if you fear treachery on the part of a people, then throw back to them on terms of equality: surely Allah does not love the treacherous” (al-Anfaal 8:58)
In this verse, Muslims have been prohibited from opening hostilities against their enemies without properly declaring war against them.
Critical Assessment:
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (b. 1925) is of the view that the Prophet (PBUH) was supremely successful as he always followed the principles of peace and refers to him as "The Prophet of Peace"
T.W.Arnold (18641930) in "The Preaching of Islam" concludes that "Islam was spread through peaceful means, not by the sword"
According to Karen Armstrong in her book "Muhammad: The Prophet for Our Time" Islam is religion of peace and its Prophet preached tolerance and coexistence. Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair once remarked that Tolerance is the defining characteristic of Islam"
Khalifa Abdul Hakim said that the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) did not merely preach toleration; he embodied it into a law. To all conquered nations he "offered liberty of worship. Proselytism by the sword was wholly contrary to the practice of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), and wrangling over creeds was abhorred by him.