بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ has been gifted many names, all of which he was uniquely bestowed by Allah سبحانه و تعالى‎ and revealed to him, one of these being al-Nabi al-Malhamah, or the Prophet of War

‘Abu Musa al-Ash’ari said The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to name himself, so he said:

“I am Muhammad, and ‘Ahmad, and al-Muqanni, and al-Hashir, and Nabi al-Rahmah, and Nabi al-Malhamah”

[Sahih Ibn Hibban]

He was known for his valor in combat, as ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib said:

“When the battle became fierce, we would seek shelter with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and none would be closer to the enemy than him.”

Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه narrated that RasulAllah ﷺ said:

“I have been sent with the sword so that Allah alone is worshiped, with no partners. My provision has been placed under the shadow of my spear, humiliation and disgrace have been placed upon those who oppose my command, and whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

[Musnad ʾAhmad]

The Prophet ﷺ was undoubtedly a warrior prophet and participated in 27 battles, fighting in 9 of them, these are referred to as al-Ghazawat.

They are the following:

1. Badr

2. Uhud

3. al-Muraysi’

4. al-Khandaq

5. Qurayzah

6. Khayba

7. al-Fath

8. Hunayn

9. al-Ta’if

Some of the scholars included the expeditions of Wadi al-Qura and al-Ghabah amongst this list.

Some might find a contradiction between Muhammad ﷺ being the Prophet sent with mercy while simultaneously being the Prophet sent with the sword, however this is not the case.

al-Imam Baghawi explains:

❝How can he be sent with mercy while he was sent with the sword? It is said: He is sent with mercy as mentioned, as Allah سبحانه وتعالى said. This is because Allah سبحانه وتعالى sent the ‘Anbiya’ عليهم السلام and supported them with miracles. So, whoever among those nations denied the truth after the evidence and miracle was given to them was punished with destruction and annihilation. However, Allah سبحانه وتعالى commanded His Prophet عليه السلام to fight them with the sword, so they might desist from disbelief and not be completely annihilated by the sword, for the sword spares some, whereas the divine punishment spares none.”

[Sharh al-Sunnah]

Sayyiduna Buraydah رضي الله عنه said:

When RasulAllāh ﷺ appointed a commander to lead an army or a raiding party, he would advise him to fear Allah with regard to himself and the Muslims with him, then he said:

“Fight in the name of Allah and for the sake of Allah. Fight those who disbelieve in Allah; fight but do not steal from the war booty, betray, or mutilate and do not kill children. If you meet your enemy of the Mushrikin, call them to three things, and whichever one of them they respond to, accept that from them and leave them alone. Call them to Islam and if they respond, accept that from them and leave them alone. Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of the Muhajirin and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhajirin. If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muslims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allah like other Muslims, but they will not get any share from the spoils of war or gains except when they actually fight with the Muslims. If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizyah. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse, then seek Allah’s help and fight them.”

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ علَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

جَزَاكَ اللهُ خَيْرًا