Anotherangle
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An Offensive Strategy or Defensive one
Although it is generally accepted that the wars of the Prophet(Peace Be upon Him) were defensive, a careful look on the narrations (hadith) reveals that the primary strategy of the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) was not defensive: it was a combination of pre-emptive strikes, offense , retaliation and total defense.
There were around 27 Ghazwaat (military operations in which he (SAW) himself participated) and around 100 syrias (military operations ordered by him but he (SAW) himself was not participating). A first look at the location/ areas of these operations tells that most of them were carried out on enemy grounds. This fact alone that all wars, except Uhad and Ahzab, were fought on enemy grounds outside Madinah Munawara is sufficient evidence that the strategy was different from mere defense.
Nevertheless, we cannot make sweeping generalization and decisions based on only one fact. Unless the circumstances before these wars are examined in some detail, it is difficult to come to an educated conclusion. I will try here to summarize the background of some famous military operations of the prophet (Peace Be upon Him), so that his (Peace Be upon Him) real strategy becomes clear.
1. Badr: The Tribe of Makkah - an active enemy of the mission of the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and the state of Madinah - prevented Muslims from traveling into Mak’kah or to Madinah (via Mak’kah). The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) countered their moves by threatening an economic blockade. When the people of Mak’kah learned about the threat to economic life line (from Syria), they sent an army to counter the forces of Madinah. However, the army of Mak’kah was defeated at Badr.
2. Uhad: Madinah was attacked to revenge the defeat of Badr. That was a totally defensive war.
3. Ahzab or Khandaq: once again a massive attack on Madinah by the grand alliance of Arab tribes. A total defensive war followed where the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and his followers remained under siege for some time.
4. Khyber: Hostilities of the tribes in Khyber prompted this war. The people of Khyber were taken by surprise when the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) army came into their sight at sunrise. That was an offense in retaliation.
5. Conquest of Makkah: Makkah and its allies violated the Hudebya peace treaty and announced the cancellation of it. That resulted in the invasion of Makkah. Although the head of Mak’kah later tried to renew the deal, the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did not accept their offer. It was an offense about which people of Mak’kah learned only a night before the Muslims entered Mak’kah.
6. Hunain: after the conquest of Mak’kah, the tribes of Hawazan and Thaqif planned and advanced to attack Muslims. Learning about them, the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) advanced on to their area.
7. Tabuk: It had become famous that army of Rum/Byzantine was about to attack Arabian Peninsula. The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) led his forces to Tabuk in order to counter any such threat. Although no war took place, the Tabuk operation underlines the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) strategy of the active defense.
Conclusion:
I have quoted above the backgrounds of some of the most famous battles. Looking at what has been mentioned, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. The prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) real strategy was addressing the need of the time and countering the threat in the most effective manner. He (Peace Be upon Him) mostly applied active defense and retaliation with full force.
2. The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did not restrict his military options to defense only.
3. The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did aim to keep the number of his enemies as low as possible,
4. Unless someone created a problem, the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did not seek him to engage in confrontation for any issue like territory or money.
It seems that the strategy was “you want to live in peace with us, you have peace, and if you try to create problems for Muslims or the state of Madinah, you will be sought after and will be punished severely”.
It is important to note that the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) was a model for all Muslims, and his limiting of any military options would have had negative implications for future Muslim statesmen and military commanders: either they would be only defending miserably or they would disown the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) way of life. Both things were undesirable for any Muslim.
Some important aspects in the strategy
I am writing, as an extension of the main topic, some aspects that I have noticed in the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) military operations. However, a professional military leader or analyst might be able to explain them better later.
1. Advisory Council: generally at every important juncture and especially before the war, prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) used to hold a grand meeting (Shoora) where his companions gave their views and proposed new strategies.
2. Economic blockade: that was used as a serious threat to Mak’kah.
3. Active defense: the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) actively sought the enemy and took the battle to his ground.
4. Surprise: in many battles, the enemy was totally surprised.
5. Secrecy and silence: it is notable that the element of surprise was achieved when there were enemies inside and all around the city of Madinah. It is not possible without extreme secrecy and silence.
6. Mobility: the mobility of the army of Madinah was exceptional noting the type of transport and general poverty Muslims were in. Almost all the times they took the war to the enemy.
7. Boldness: prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) conducted war campaigns with unmatched boldness. Muslims continued to conduct wars with that type of boldness for many centuries. So called Napoleonic boldness seems to me a reminiscent of early Muslim wars. (I am not implying here that Napoleon learned from those wars, but it is clear that it was not his innovation nor was he the first one to use it. However, his mastery of the skill earned him a great name.)
Although it is generally accepted that the wars of the Prophet(Peace Be upon Him) were defensive, a careful look on the narrations (hadith) reveals that the primary strategy of the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) was not defensive: it was a combination of pre-emptive strikes, offense , retaliation and total defense.
There were around 27 Ghazwaat (military operations in which he (SAW) himself participated) and around 100 syrias (military operations ordered by him but he (SAW) himself was not participating). A first look at the location/ areas of these operations tells that most of them were carried out on enemy grounds. This fact alone that all wars, except Uhad and Ahzab, were fought on enemy grounds outside Madinah Munawara is sufficient evidence that the strategy was different from mere defense.
Nevertheless, we cannot make sweeping generalization and decisions based on only one fact. Unless the circumstances before these wars are examined in some detail, it is difficult to come to an educated conclusion. I will try here to summarize the background of some famous military operations of the prophet (Peace Be upon Him), so that his (Peace Be upon Him) real strategy becomes clear.
1. Badr: The Tribe of Makkah - an active enemy of the mission of the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and the state of Madinah - prevented Muslims from traveling into Mak’kah or to Madinah (via Mak’kah). The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) countered their moves by threatening an economic blockade. When the people of Mak’kah learned about the threat to economic life line (from Syria), they sent an army to counter the forces of Madinah. However, the army of Mak’kah was defeated at Badr.
2. Uhad: Madinah was attacked to revenge the defeat of Badr. That was a totally defensive war.
3. Ahzab or Khandaq: once again a massive attack on Madinah by the grand alliance of Arab tribes. A total defensive war followed where the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) and his followers remained under siege for some time.
4. Khyber: Hostilities of the tribes in Khyber prompted this war. The people of Khyber were taken by surprise when the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) army came into their sight at sunrise. That was an offense in retaliation.
5. Conquest of Makkah: Makkah and its allies violated the Hudebya peace treaty and announced the cancellation of it. That resulted in the invasion of Makkah. Although the head of Mak’kah later tried to renew the deal, the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did not accept their offer. It was an offense about which people of Mak’kah learned only a night before the Muslims entered Mak’kah.
6. Hunain: after the conquest of Mak’kah, the tribes of Hawazan and Thaqif planned and advanced to attack Muslims. Learning about them, the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) advanced on to their area.
7. Tabuk: It had become famous that army of Rum/Byzantine was about to attack Arabian Peninsula. The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) led his forces to Tabuk in order to counter any such threat. Although no war took place, the Tabuk operation underlines the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) strategy of the active defense.
Conclusion:
I have quoted above the backgrounds of some of the most famous battles. Looking at what has been mentioned, the following conclusions can be drawn:
1. The prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) real strategy was addressing the need of the time and countering the threat in the most effective manner. He (Peace Be upon Him) mostly applied active defense and retaliation with full force.
2. The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did not restrict his military options to defense only.
3. The prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did aim to keep the number of his enemies as low as possible,
4. Unless someone created a problem, the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) did not seek him to engage in confrontation for any issue like territory or money.
It seems that the strategy was “you want to live in peace with us, you have peace, and if you try to create problems for Muslims or the state of Madinah, you will be sought after and will be punished severely”.
It is important to note that the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) was a model for all Muslims, and his limiting of any military options would have had negative implications for future Muslim statesmen and military commanders: either they would be only defending miserably or they would disown the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) way of life. Both things were undesirable for any Muslim.
Some important aspects in the strategy
I am writing, as an extension of the main topic, some aspects that I have noticed in the prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) military operations. However, a professional military leader or analyst might be able to explain them better later.
1. Advisory Council: generally at every important juncture and especially before the war, prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) used to hold a grand meeting (Shoora) where his companions gave their views and proposed new strategies.
2. Economic blockade: that was used as a serious threat to Mak’kah.
3. Active defense: the prophet (Peace Be upon Him) actively sought the enemy and took the battle to his ground.
4. Surprise: in many battles, the enemy was totally surprised.
5. Secrecy and silence: it is notable that the element of surprise was achieved when there were enemies inside and all around the city of Madinah. It is not possible without extreme secrecy and silence.
6. Mobility: the mobility of the army of Madinah was exceptional noting the type of transport and general poverty Muslims were in. Almost all the times they took the war to the enemy.
7. Boldness: prophet’s (Peace Be upon Him) conducted war campaigns with unmatched boldness. Muslims continued to conduct wars with that type of boldness for many centuries. So called Napoleonic boldness seems to me a reminiscent of early Muslim wars. (I am not implying here that Napoleon learned from those wars, but it is clear that it was not his innovation nor was he the first one to use it. However, his mastery of the skill earned him a great name.)
