Islam and Peace
The Importance of Studying the Life of the Prophet Muhammad and its
Application to Our Lives
~ 94 ~
The Prophet thereupon said, “They are not
deserters but–Insha Allah–action takers.”
There was a kind of flawed dichotomy in the
thinking of those Medinan Muslims. In their view,
there were but two options: one was to fight the
enemy courageously, and the other was to beat an
ignominious retreat. Since they thought that the
Muslim army should have stayed with the first
option, even if it meant that each and every one of
them was martyred in the process.
On this occasion, the Prophet of Islam pointed to
the existence of a third option. And that was to
remove themselves from the field of action to a
place where, undisturbed by war, they could build
up their strength and prepare intensively for a more
effective campaign at a later date. The return of
Khalid ibn Walid from Muta was not as such, a
retreat, but rather adherence to this third option.
History tells us, in fact, that the Muslims after 3
years of such preparation, went back under the
command of Usamah ibn Zayd to the Roman
borders and where they won a resounding victory.
