hostility, save
against wrong-doers."--_Sura II._

19. "_O Meccans!_ if ye desired a decision, now hath the decision
come to you. It will be better for you to give over _the struggle_.
If ye return _to it_, we will return; and your forces, though they
be many, shall by no means avail you aught, because God is with the
faithful."

39. "Say to the infidels: If they desist what is now past shall be
forgiven them; but if they turn _to it_, they have already before
them the doom of the former."--_Sura VIII._

And the same was the case regarding the Jews.

104. "Many of those who have Scripture would like to bring you back
to unbelief after you have believed, out of selfish envy, even
after the truth hath been shown to them. Forgive them then, and
shun them till God shall come with his decree. Truly God hath power
over all things."--_Sura II._

63. "But if they lean to peace, lean thou also to it; and put thy
trust in God. He verily is the hearing, the knowing."--_Sura VIII._

16. ... "Thou wilt not cease to discover the treacherous ones among
them, except a few of them. But forgive them and pass it over.
Verily God loveth those who act generously."--_Sura V._

But there could be no peace or mutual agreement on the part of the enemy
until the truce of Hodeibia, which was also violated by them in a short
time.

Even in the wars which were waged for self-preservation, the Prophet had
very much mitigated the evils which are necessarily inflicted in the
progress of wars. Fraud, perfidy, cruelty, killing women, children and
aged persons were forbidden by Mohammad;[25] and a kind treatment of the
prisoners of war enjoined. But foremost of these all--slavery, and
domestication of concubinary slaves, the concomitant evils of war--were
abolished by him, ordering at the same time that prisoners of war should
be either liberated gratis or ransomed. Neither they were to be enslaved
nor killed. (_Vide_ Sura XLVII, verses 4 and 5; and Appendix B of this
work.) Attacking offensively was forbidden by the Koran (II, 186 _La
Taatadu_, _i.e._ 'Do not attack first'). Mohammad had taken oaths from
the Moslems to refrain from plundering (_vide_ page 58 of this book).

"All hostilities and plundering excursions between neighbouring
tribes that had become Musalman he forbade on pain of death; and
this among those who had hitherto