Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/222

 202 away, then say, O believers, I bear witness that we are Muslims."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Ibn ʿAbbás that, 'The Apostle of God sent a letter to Kisra (King of Persia) with ʿAbduʾlláh bin Ḥudháfahu's-Sahimi, and commanded him to deliver it to the Governor of Bahrain. And the Governor of Bahrain handed it over to Kisra. And when the latter read it, he tore it in pieces.' Ibnuʾl-Musayyib said, 'Then the Apostle of God invoked a curse upon them (saying) "May they be torn into pieces!"'—Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Sulaimán bin Buraidah, from his father, that he said, 'When the Apostle of God appointed a leader over any army or marauding band, he was in the habit of giving him orders regarding his special duties concerning the fear of God and good behaviour towards those Muslims who were with him. After that he would say, "Go forth to war in the name of God in His road: fight with those who disbelieve in God. Go forth to war. Do not use deceit or break a covenant, or mutilate, or kill children. And when thou meetest thine enemy of the polytheists, then invite them to three things: the rights and privileges of Islám or defeat. Then whichever of the three they give an affirmative answer to, accept it from them and withdraw from them. After that invite them to Islám; and if they give an affirmative answer to thee, then accept it from them and withdraw from them. After that invite them to remove themselves from their homes to the homes of the refugees, and inform them that if they do that, then for them is what is given to the refugees; and their duties are the same as those of the refugees. But if they refuse to change from their homes, then inform them that they will remain as the desert Arabs who have embraced Islám. The commands of God will be obligatory upon them which are obligatory upon other believers; but they will get nothing of the plunder and spoils unless they go to fight along with the other Muslims. But if they refuse (to become Muslims) then ask from them the poll-tax. And if they answer thee in the affirmative, then accept it from them, and withdraw from them. But if they refuse (to pay), then seek help from God and fight them. And when thou besiege the people of a fortress, and they express