A. Policy of Co-existence and non-aggression:
• As Islam is a religion of peace, love and kindness to all mankind, the Holy Prophet (PBUH), right from beginning, did his level best to ensure peaceful co-existence with neighboring States and Tribes. The state of Medina strictly followed the policy of non-interference in others’ affairs and never initiated hostilities or aggression against other States, Tribes or Groups.
• Whatever transpired between the Muslims and the Quraish was purely the result of the hostile and intrasigent attitude exhibited by the Chiefs of Makkah who were bent upon eliminating Muslims from the face of this earth one way or the other. It is they who initiated the hostilities of Badr, Uhd and Khandaq and not the Muslims of Madina who all through were fighting a defensive battle of survival.
B. Honoring of Covenants, Agreements and Treaties:
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) not only initiated the peace process but also scrupulously honored the covenants, Agreements or Treaties which the State of Madina signed with others. The most glaring example is of the Treaty of Hudaibiya which was yet in the process of being signed by both sides but as the provisions had verbally been agreed to, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) returend Abu Jandal back to his guardian from Makkah although he was neither legally bound to do so nor any of his Companions was agreeable to this. The same holds true about other agreements as well. History bears witness to the fact that the Muslims honored the treaty which had been signed with the Jews of Khayber in letter and spirit and remained contented with half produce of dates and fruits although the area was too rich to be left with the adversaries.
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) advised his Companions and functionaries of the State to always keep in mind the Commands of Allah Almighty in this behalf.
• “O you who believe fulfil obligations.” (5:1)
• “And fulfil the covenant, for the Covenant shall be questioned about.” (17:34)
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said:
• “For everyone who breaks his covenant there will be flag on the Day of Judgment, and it will be said [to his or her humiliation before all creation]: “This is [proof of] betrayal by so-and-so.” (Muslim)
• “Allah the Almighty said: `I will contend against three [types of] people on the Day of Judgment: A person who has made a covenant in My Name and then has broken it; a person who has sold a free man and then has devoured his price; and a person who has hired a laborer and has not given him his pay after he has obtained his due in full from him.” (Al-Bukhari)
• “Whoever possesses these four characteristics is a hypocrite; and anyone who possesses one of them in fact possesses a trait of hypocrisy until he gives it up: when he is entrusted [with something], he proves dishonest; when he speaks, he tells lies;
when he makes a covenant, he breaks it; and when he quarrels, he behaves in a very impudent, insulting manner.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
C. Showing Full Respect and Honor to Foreign Ambassadors, Dignitaries and Delegations:
• The State of Madina always treated foreign dignitaries with full honor. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) normally used to accommodate foreign visitors in the Masjid-I-Nabvi and would personally ensure that they and their mounts were well looked after. There is not a single example where any such dignitary was maltreated or given less protocol and respect to which he was otherwise entitled under the then prevailing norms. Even when the bitterest enemy of Islam, Abu Sufyan, visited Madina after his side had violated the Treaty of Hudaibiya, he was neither insulted nor humiliated by anyone; the only thing which the Muslims did was not to recommend him to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) or, in any other manner, show any sympathy for his cause.
• On the other hand, much against the prevailing norms of behavior, chosroes, the Emperor of Persia, tore the letter which was sent to him by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) asking him to embrace Islam while the Ruler of Basra Ash-Sham, Shurahbil ibn Amr Al-Ghassani, went to the extent of killing the bearer of the letter.
D. New Rules of War and Humane Treatment of Prisoners:
• The Holy Prophet (PBUH) instructed his Companions that even in most distressing circumstances, they should not become revengeful and arrogant and always try to remain within the norms prescribed by Allah Almighty. The Muslims, therefore, never destroyed vital establishments, crops and fruit-trees or killed old people, women and children even in open wars with their enemies. They also set new standards of treatment and release of prisoners of war. For example, all the prisoners of the Battle of Badr were extended excellent treatment. All those who could afford were released after payment of ransom.
The poor and the old were allowed freedom without any ransom while those who could read and write were given the option of release after a fixed time provided they taught ten Muslim children each. It was something novel and unique in Arabia, for uptil then the prisoners were either killed straightaway after their capture, or were subjected to most inhuman treatment during captivity.
E. New Parameters of generosity and kindness in victory:
• It was something normal in Arabia if a revenge war continued for generations. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) showed to the Arabs the other extreme i.e. of general amnesty to all, including the worst enemies, at the time of his conquest of Makkah. This exhibition of super-human kindness and gentleness in face of a unanimous feeling to the contrary in his victorious camp not only brought all Quraish into the fold of Islam but also extinguished the fire of revenge once for all between the two sides which, otherwise, could have raged for decades un-abated.
F. Definite Show of Strength and Power where warranted:
• The thrust of Holy Prophet (PBUH)’s policies, no doubt, was peaceful co-existence and non-aggression against others but if war became inevitable as in the case of Makkahns, the Jews of Khyber and the Romans of the Byzantine Empire, he struck at them with full force, determination and courage till such time that they either surrendered or ceased hostilities otherwise . The same he did by resorting to pre-emptive strikes whenever he received a credible information that such and such tribe or state was mobilizing its forces to swoop at Madina.