I wrote to Nafi’ inquiring from him whether it was necessary to extend (to the disbelievers) an invitation to accept (Islam) before meeting them in fight. He wrote (in reply) to me that it was necessary in the early days of Islam. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) made a raid upon Banu Mustaliq while they were unaware and their cattle were having a drink at the water. He killed those who fought and imprisoned others. On that very day, he captured Juwairiya bint al-Harith. Nafi’ said that this tradition was related to him by Abdullah b. Umar who (himself) was among the raiding troops. – Sahih Muslim 1730a
Commentary
This Hadith from Sahih Muslim describes a raid on the Banu Mustaliq tribe, conducted without warning despite their prior exposure to Islam’s call. The tribe was attacked while tending to their cattle, resulting in deaths and the capture of survivors, including Juwairiya bint al-Harith. The text reveals that early Islamic practice initially required an invitation to Islam before combat, but this requirement was later dropped, allowing surprise attacks. This shift prioritizes military advantage over negotiation, raising ethical concerns about targeting unsuspecting communities. The enslavement of captives, particularly women, as war spoils further highlights troubling questions about the treatment of defeated populations and the moral framework of such actions in Islamic tradition.