For if you let them surrender according to the rule of Allah...

For if you let them surrender according to the rule of Allah you will not know whether you will be able to fulfil the rule of Allah regarding them or not. If you lay siege to a fortress and the people wish you to let them surrender on the basis of the covenant and assurance of Allah then do not agree to this. Rather let them surrender on the 2 4 This is in order to for them to be close centres of Islamic learning and therefore learn more about Islam in the various domains of life.

basis of your own covenant and guarantee and that of your fathers and your brothers. For if you break your covenant and the covenant of your fathers and your brothers it will be easier for you on the Day of Resurrection than if you had broken the covenant of Allah and His messenger." Related from Imam Saadiq (A) from his father, from his forefathers, from Amir-ul-Mu'mineen (A) who said: "The Messenger of Allah (S), when he sent out an army or a raiding party would enjoin God fearing piety upon its leader personally and on the rest of the Muslims who were with him.

He (S) would say: 'Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah . . . and do not kill children or the elderly or women (meaning as long as they do not fight you), and do not mutilate and do not tie up or handcuff, and do not use perfidious means." Related by al-Sukuni, from Imam Saadiq (A) who said : 'Amir-ul-Mu'mineen (A) said: 'The Messenger of Allah (S) forbade the letting loose or deploying of poison in the lands of the Polytheists.' Related from Ja'far ibn Muhammad , from his father, from his grandfather 'Ali ibn al-Hussein, fro m his father from Imam 'Ali (A) who said: 'The Messenger of Allah (S) said: 'In battle do not kill (anyone) except those who have exposed themselves to the blades.

(i.e. those who have come to fight with you.) Related in the book Da'aim al-Islam that the Messenger of Allah (S) said: 'Do not kill children or the elderly or women.' Related in a hadith is that Sa'd ibn Mu'adh judged regarding the clan of Qureidah "that their fighters be killed and that their children be captured. He ordered that the male amongst the captured to have their garments removed.

Whoever's had grown was considered to be a fighter and whoever's had not gro wn then he was considered to be one of the children"25 . The Prophet (S) accepted this.