ies for the war at Muraisi with the Bani
Mustalik. There were no fightings with the Koreiza, as their affair was
but a continuation of the war of Ahzab, and therefore does not require a
separate number. At Mecca there was no action, and it surrendered by a
compromise. As for Tayif it was a part of the battle of Honain like
Autas. It was besieged to lay hold of the fugitives who had sought there
a shelter, and subsequently the siege was raised. Thus, there remain
only five expeditions, which I have numbered out of nine, in which
Mohammad fought against his enemies in his and his followers' defence.
Even these five scarcely deserve the name of battle. From a military
point of view, they were but petty skirmishes in their results. The
enemy's loss at Badr was 49, at Ohad 20, at Ahzab 3, at Khyber 93, and
at Honain 93; but the last two numbers are open to doubt, and seem to be
exaggerated. The loss on the Moslem side was 14, 74, 5, 19, and 17
respectively. The whole casualties in these wars on the side of the
Moslems were 129, and on that of the enemies 258, which is exactly
double those of the Moslems, and looks suspicious; hence it must be
accepted with caution.

[Footnote 20: The biographers have only compiled or arranged the mass of
popular romances and favourite tales of campaigns, which had become
stereotyped in their time, but were for the most part the inventions of
a playful fantasy.]

[Footnote 21: Musa-bin-Akba (died 141 A.H.)]

[Footnote 22: Ibn Sad and Ibn Is-hak as already alluded to.]

[Sidenote: Mr. Green quoted.]

15. The Rev. Samuel Green writes:--

"It has been insinuated that Mahomet first took up arms in his own
defence, and by more than one historian he has been justified in
seeking to repel or prevent the hostilities of his enemies, and to
exact a reasonable measure of retaliation. 'The choice of an
independent people,' says Gibbon, 'had exalted the fugitive of
Mecca to the rank of a sovereign, and he was invested with the just
prerogative of forming alliances, and of waging offensive or
defensive war.'[23] That such a sentiment was entertained by a
Mahometan does not at all surprise us, nor is it marvellous that it
should be justified by an infidel; if it be true, war needs nothing
to render laudable but the pretext of former injuries and the
possession of power. The defence set up for Mahomet is equally
availing for every sang