.............................................................. Muhammad's military conquests in the last 5 or 10 years of his life? Were they "defensive"? By some Islamic definitions I've heard that they were "defensive".
This is important for our conversations, because to a non-Muslim, most of Muhammad's military conquests would not be considered "defensive".
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Peace be on you.
1= ""...........
Ghazwah of Dummatul-Jandal and a New Addition to the
Islāmic Wars - Rabī‘ul-Awwal 5 A.H.
Until now, the military operations which had been undertaken were either directly or indirectly for the purpose of defense. Those campaigns which were undertaken for the purpose of settling treaties of peace and security with various Arabian tribes also fell under the same category.
Moreover, all of the journeys which had been undertaken until that time were confined to the regions of central Ḥijāz and Najd, but now, this sphere began to widen. Therefore, Dummatul-Jandal, the Ghazwah of which we now mention, was situated near the Syrian border, and it was at a distance of no less than fifteen or sixteen days travel from Madīnah.1
The reason for this Ghazwah was that the Holy Prophet sa received news that many people from Dummatul-Jandal had gathered and were occupied in robbing and looting others. They would attack travellers and caravans passing by and would disturb them by robbing and looting them. Along with this, it was apprehended that they may turn their sights towards Madīnah as well, and thus become a source of distress for the Muslims.2
A prime objective of the military operations of the Holy Prophet sa was also the establishment of peace. Therefore, although the Muslims of Madīnah were not directly in severe danger by the pillaging and plunder of these people, the Holy Prophet sa urged the Companions that the robbery and injustice being perpetrated there should be put to an end.
Hence, upon the encouragement of the Holy Prophet sa, 1,000 Companions set out with him to undertake this far-off and arduous journey.3
In the fifth year of Hijrah, during the month of Rabī‘ul-Awwal, the Holy Prophetsa went forth from Madīnah.4
After completing a long and tiresome journey of fifteen to sixteen days, the Holy Prophet sa reached Dummatul-Jandal. However, upon reaching there it was ascertained that these people had scattered
here and there upon receiving news of the imminent arrival of the Muslims.
Although the Holy Prophet sa remained there for a few days, and also dispatched small companies in search of them so that intelligence could be gathered with respect to these trouble-makers, they disappeared in such a manner that they were nowhere to be found. However, a shepherd from among them who was
taken captive by the Muslims accepted Islām upon the preaching of the Holy Prophet sa. After a stay of a few days, the Holy Prophet sa returned to Madīnah.5
* Aṭ-Ṭabaqātul-Kubrā, By Muḥammad bin Sa‘d, Volume 2, p. 280, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhisa Dūmatal Jandal, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut, Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
* Mu‘jamul-Buldān, By Shihābuddīn Abū ‘Abdillāh Yāqūt bin ‘Abdillāh Al-Ḥamwiyyu Ar-Rūmiyyu,
Volume 2, p. 325, Ghazwatu Rasūlillāhisa Dūmatal-Jandal, Dāru Iḥyā’it-Turāthil-‘Arabī, Beirut,
Lebanon, First Edition (1996)
............................................................""
[and more references given there]
Source: Pages 401 +
https://www.alislam.org/holyprophet/Seal-of-Prophets-Vol-2.pdf
2= MORE RELATED ASPECTS CAN BE READ AT:
"" II - Commencement of Jihād by the Sword and Fundamental Discussion on
Jihād
Does Islām Permit Compulsion in the Matter of Religion? ... 40
State of Muslims at the Commencement of Jihād Refutes the Notion of Compulsion ...44
No Individual Has Ever Been Coerced to Become Muslim .... 44
Lives of the Companions Reject the Notion of Compulsion .....48
Desire of the Holy Prophetsa to Reconcile Rejects the Notion of Compulsion ....49
Muslims Achieved Exceptional Progress During a Time of Peace ......51
Hundreds of Disbelievers Remained Averse to Islām at the Victory of Makkah ......52
Causes of War .........53
First Qur’ānic Verse Regarding Jihād ......61
Holy Qur’ān as the Most Authentic Historical Evidence ......63
Some Additional Qur’ānic Verses Relevant to Jihād .....65
Some Fundamental Narrations Relevant to Jihād by the Sword ......69
Manner of War in Arabia .......76
Categories of the Islāmic Wars .......77
Etiquette of Islāmic Jihād .......78
Commencement of Jihād & Precautionary Measures of the Holy Prophet sa ...... 89
..
Source Pages v +
https://www.alislam.org/holyprophet/Seal-of-Prophets-Vol-2.pdf
