Military Awareness
The Arabs did not recognize systematized warfare; they attack or retreat aimlessly with no definite goal. However, the Messenger (peace be upon him) could change the Arab idea of warfare by inventing the pentagonal system in organizing the army; that is, in arranging the army in five sections: front, right, left, center and back. The Arabs were surprised by this excellent arrangement.
An American military periodical published a study entitled Muhammad: A Unique Military Mentality, by the military historian, Richard Gariel, in which he says, without Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) ingenuity and His singular military vision, Islam would not have held out and spread after His death. He also said, despite the abundance of scientific studies concerning Muhammad’s life and achievements, there is not any study that regards Muhammad as the first general in Islam.
According to the study, but for the Messenger’s (peace be upon him) success as a military leader, the Muslims would not have conquered the Byzantium and Persian Empires after His death. The study says that viewing the Messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a military leader is for many, something new; for He was a first-rate military man. In one decade, He led eight military battles, and launched eighteen raids.
The study also mentions that Muhammad (peace be upon him) was twice wounded during the battles. He was not only a cunning military leader, but also, according to the study, He was a military theorist and a strategic thinker. The study also praises the intelligence agencies established and directed by Muhammad, which surpassed their counterparts of the then two Powerful empires of Persia and Byzantium.
The study considers that the Messenger built up the united Islamic armed forces that began conquests two years after His death. These forces constituted a new experience in Arabia that was unprecedented for the Arabs. The study extols the ability and success of the honorable Messenger (peace be upon him) in bringing about a revolutionary change in the way the Arabs fought. Instead of small tribal units that launch minor thrusts of attack-and-retreat, the Messenger could efficiently create the first united army whose soldiers came from different Arab tribes.
This army was of a strict disciplinary nature. The study shows that the Messenger succeeded in building a military system for leadership and control of the first time in Arab history.
Muhammad’s Alertness in Addressing Kings and Leaders
Six years after His Migration and settlement in Medina, Muhammad (peace be upon him) sent messages to kings and leaders all over the world calling them to Islam. He chose envoys first from the Christians, as they are a People of the Book, who believe in Allah and their true religion harmonizes with Islam.
Therefore it was possible to set a common ground; that is, worshipping one God. He sent the Negus a message, in which He said, “From Muhammad the Prophet of Islam, to the Negus, the King of Ethiopia: Peace be on you. I thank God for you, The God, who is no god but him, the King, the Holy Faith, the Guardian, and I witness that Jesus, the son of Mary, the Spirit of God and .cc., His Word. The word He gave to the Virgin, the believer Mary, and from this word she bore Jesus. God created Jesus from His soul just as He created Adam. I invite you and your soldiers to believe in the God the Almighty. I wrote and advised you, so accept my advice. Peace upon those who follow the right way.”
The Negus’s response was, “In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful. To Muhammad, God’s Messenger, from the Negus. Peace and blessings be upon you, the Apostle of God, who is only one. By God, Jesus is not more than what you have described him. I bear witness that you are the Messenger of God. O God’s Messenger, I testify that what you say is all true. By God, I will never give you up to anyone. I testify you are the Messenger of Allah and Islam is His religion.”
He also wrote to Juraij bin Matta, nicknamed AI-Magougas, King of Egypt and Alexandria, “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. This is from Muhammad, Servant and Messenger of Allah, to Al-Magougas, The Magnificent, of the Copts. Peace for those who follow the right path.’ call you to Islam, in which you shall find peace and be twice rewarded by Allah. If you turn your back on this call, you shall earn the blame for the Copts’ sins.”
Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, “Say, ‘O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship any except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lord instead of Allah.”
But if they turn away, then say, “Bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting to Him).” (Ali-Imran:64)
Muhammad (peace be upon him) chose for this mission, Hateb bin Abi Baltaah, who upon arrival, told Al-Magougas, “The king before you claimed to be the almighty lord, so Allah made an exemplary punishment of him, and too, vengeance on him. Be warned by the other, otherwise the other will.”
Al-maqoucias said, “We have a religion that we will not forsake except for a better one.”
Hatch said, “We call you to Islam, which Allah makes for a sufficient compensation for losing the other.”
Then Prophet called people to Islam, the fiercest were those of the Quraysh, the strenuous foes were the Jews, the closest were the Christians. By Allah, Moses, and the gospel of Jesus, in nothing but similar to the latter’s of Muhammad. Our call to you to the Qur’an is but similar to yours to the people of the Old Testament is the New Testament.
Every Prophet reaching some people, then they are His community and ought to obey Him, and you are one of this Prophet’s contemporaries. We do not ban you from the religion of Jesus, but rather, order you to adhere to it.
Al-Maqoucias said, “I looked thoroughly into the affair of this Prophet’s finding. He does not order something forsaken, or ban what is desirable. He is neither a false magician nor a deceptive priest. I found that the signs of the Prophet stood to reveal which is hidden, and to tell of intimate conversations.”
Then Al-Maqougas took the message of the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) put it in an ivory box, sealed it, and gave it to a female servant. Then he called a clerk to write in Arabic to the Messenger:
“In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. From Muqawqis, the Greatest of Copts. Peace be upon you. I read your letter and understood what you have written for and what you are inviting. I know that the coming of a Prophet is still due. But I thought he would be born in Syria.
I have treated your messenger with respect and honor. I am sending two maids for you, as presents. These maids belong to a very respectable family amongst us. In addition, I send for you clothes and a duldul (steed) for riding. May God bestow security on you.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) sent Heraclius – Emperor of Byzantium a message that said: “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. From Muhammad, Servant and Messenger of Allah to Heraclius, the Magnificent of Byzantium, peace for those who follow guidance. I call you to Islam, in which you shall find peace and be twice rewarded by Allah. If you go astray, you shall carry the blame of the sins of Byzantines.”
Allah says in the Holy Quran, “Say,’ O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you – that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah: But if they turn away, then say, ‘Bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting to Him).”
Muhammad (peace be upon him) wrote to Al-Munther bin Saawi, Ruler of Bahrain, calling him to Islam with Alaa bin AI-Hudrami delivering the message, Al-Munther wrote to the Messenger, “Now then, O messenger of Allah, I read your message to the People of Bahrain. Some liked Islam and embraced it, others hated it. In my country there are Magi and so send me your commands.”
The Messenger (peace be upon him) answered him. He also wrote to Al-Harith bin Abi Shamer Al-Ghassani, Ruler of Damascus, “In the name of Allah, this is from Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah, to Al-Harith bin Abi Samar, peace for the one who follows the right path and believes in Allah. I call you to believe in the oneness of Allah without associating partners, in this way your kingship remains.”
Surveying these messages, we notice awareness on the part of Muhammad (peace be upon him) of the ways of addressing kings, what suits and affects them, we also notice that He addresses them as a Prophet calling them to Islam first, as it is His main target. What is further evident in that He asks them first to come to terms wills the creed that there is no god but Allah.
In all His messages, the Prophet asks nothing of this life, like kingship or being their guest or personal benefit, but rather opens for them the gates of the afterlife, then showing them how tolerable His message is by demanding of them, in case they do not become Muslims, not to bar them from their way to Islam.
He surprised them with His style, which they were not accustomed to receive from the Arabs; a style abundant in honor and trust in victory, composed with all tact and humane appreciation without arrogance or self-importance emphasizing that He is a link completing those of Moses and Jesus.
Muhammad paid attention to protocol when dealing with leaders and kings. When He wanted to address them, one of His companions told Him, “They (leaders and kings) do not read any letter unless it has a seal.”
So the Prophet (peace be upon him) took a ring of silver, and on it were engraved the words), “Muhammad Rasul Allah (Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah).”
