If they became victorious...

If they became victorious, they were not allowed to seize the property of the conquered, and they could not kill freely; or take women and children captive. In that case why should they fight? They had no material profits to expect, whereas they were faced with a constant threat of death. Therefore without a divine motive or a human virtue it would be useless to go to war. But the people of ash-Sham could give a quick and positive answer to the call of Mu'awiyah, since in…