to invite them to Islam before fighting, so that they understand why they are being fought—not because the call to Islam has not reached them. The correct view is that the call to Islam has reached the entire world. The evidence for this is Allah’s saying, Mighty and Majestic:

“There was no nation without a warner having come among them.” [Fātir: 24]

And His saying, Mighty and Majestic:

“Whenever a group is cast into it, its keepers will ask them, ‘Did no warner come to you?’ They will say, ‘Yes, a warner did come to us, but we denied him and said: Allah has revealed nothing.’” [al-Mulk: 8–9]

And the Exalted says:

“We would never punish until We had sent a messenger.” [al-Isrā’: 15]

The basis for inviting the enemy to Islam before fighting is the report of ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib—may Allah Most High be pleased with him. When the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him—gave him the banner, he told him: “Go until you reach their encampment, then invite them to Islam and inform them of their obligations. By Allah, for Allah to guide a single man through you is better for you than all that the sun rises upon.”

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The Quran also records an invitation preceding combat in the story of Solomon—peace and blessings be upon him—and Bilqīs bint Sharāhīl, queen of the people of Sheba, and the letter he sent her with the hoopoe: “The Most Merciful” [al-Naml: 30]; “Do not exalt yourselves against me, but come to me in submission.” [al-Naml: 31]

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The army commander should remain at the rear, so that he can send ahead anyone whose camel is ailing and allow the sick and weak to catch up. Success comes from Allah.

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There are six conditions for jihad to be obligatory; it is not obligatory unless they are met. If any one of them is lacking, it ceases to be