who do not follow their desires; indeed, anyone who fears Allah and is fair-minded knows that they were taken captive unjustly, especially those seized through treachery. Allah Most High did not command the Messiah, any of the disciples, or anyone who followed the Messiah’s religion to capture or kill those who follow the religion of Abraham. How could that be, when most Christians acknowledge that Muhammad is the messenger to the unlettered? How, then, can it be permissible to fight people who have followed their messenger?

If someone says, “They fought us first,” the answer is:

This is false in the case of those whom you betrayed and those against whom you initiated hostilities. As for those among them who fought you first, they are excused, for Allah Most High and His Messenger commanded them to do so. Indeed, even the Messiah and the disciples were bound by covenants to that effect. Those who obey Allah and His messengers, call others to His worship and His religion, acknowledge all the Scriptures and messengers, and fight so that Allah’s word may be supreme and all worship may be devoted to Allah alone are not equal to those who fight to satisfy their own desires and obey their devil, contrary to the command of Allah and His messengers.

Among Christian kings, priests, monks, and ordinary people, there have always been those who surpass others in knowledge and religious devotion. Such a person recognizes some of the truth and submits to much of it, and understands the worth of Islam and its followers in ways that others do not. He therefore treats them in a manner that benefits him in this world and the Hereafter.

Furthermore, the sayings of the prophets and the steadfastly truthful concerning the release of captives and the reward for freeing slaves are well known to anyone who seeks them out. Whatever the king does in his dealings with them, he will reap its fruits.