Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/223

 Rh a desire to thee that thou give them a pledge of security from God and His Prophet; then do not give them a pledge of security from God and His Prophet, but give them thine own pledge and the pledge of thy companions; for if ye violate your pledge and the pledge of your companions, it will be easier than if ye violate the pledge of God and the pledge of His Apostle. And if thou besiege the people in a fortress, and they express to thee a desire that thou bring them down on the condition that they agree to the orders of God; then do not bring them down on the orders of God, but bring them down on (the condition that they agree to) thy orders; for verily thou dost not know whether thou wilt receive the orders of God regarding them or not."'—Muslim.

It is related from Anas that, 'When the Prophet went with us to fight any people, he would not fight with us until the dawn broke. And he would look towards them, and if he heard the call to prayer he would withdraw from them, but if he did not hear the call to prayer, he would attack them.' Anas said, 'And we went out to Khaibár, and we reached them at night. Then when it dawned, and he did not hear the call to prayer, he mounted, and I mounted behind Abú Ṭalḥa, and verily my feet touched the feet of the Prophet of God. And they came out towards us with their bags (for dates) and their instruments for irrigation. And when they saw the Prophet they said, "Muḥammad, by God! Muḥammad and the army!" And they took refuge in the fortress. And when the Apostle of God saw them he said, "God is great! God is great! Khaibár is ruined! Verily when we come down on the land of any tribe, then bad is the morning of those who have been warned."'—Muslim, Al Bukhárí.

It is related from Abú Wáiʾl that he said, 'Khálid binuʾl-Walíd wrote to the people of Persia: "In the name of God the Merciful, the Compassionate, Khálid binuʾl-Walíd to Rustam and Mihrán the chiefs of Persia. Peace be to him who follows the guidance. After that we invite you to Islám; and if ye refuse, then give the poll-tax out of hand so that ye be rendered contemptible. But if ye refuse, then with me is a people who love death in the way of God, even as the Persians love wine. Then peace be on him who follows the guidance."'—Sharḥu's-Sunnah.