Islam and The Military Policy of Prophet Muhammad ﷺin the Perspective of Balance of Power

Authors

  • Saleem Ullah Atif Faculty of Islamic Studies, Superior University,Lahore, (Faisalabad Campus)
  • Syed Adil Hussain Shah Faculty of Islamic Studies, Superior University,Lahore, (Faisalabad Campus)

Keywords:

Military strategies, Qur’an, Seerah, Balance of power, Intelligence and logistics, Strategic planning, National defense, Diplomacy, International relations

Abstract

This study examines the military strategies of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in the context of balance of power, as described in the Qur’an and his Seerah. These strategies reflect a comprehensive guidance system that integrates ethical, social, political, and strategic dimensions. Emphasizing merit-based recruitment, organized structure, discipline, intelligence, and logistical preparedness, the Prophet’s ﷺ approach demonstrates that military success relies on wisdom, planning, and foresight rather than mere force or numbers. His policies, neither aggressive nor purely reactive, combined ethical conduct with strategic foresight to maintain unity, deter threats, and ensure societal stability. The holistic model of governance and defense established by the Prophet ﷺ not only safeguarded early Muslim society but also offers enduring lessons for modern national defense, diplomacy, and international relations. Principles of ethical leadership, intelligence, cohesion, and balance of power remain essential for sustaining peace and security at both national and global levels.

References

1.Gabriel Richard A. Muhammad Islam's First General. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press Page 41.

2.Colin S. Gray. Maintaining Effective Deterrence

3. Brodie, Bernard. The Absolute Weapon: Atomic Power and World Order. New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1946

4. Gray, Colin S. 1999. Modern Strategy. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

5. Kissinger, Henry. 1957. Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy. New York: Harper & Brothers.page123–127

6. Kissinger, Henry. 1957. Nuclear Weapons and Foreign Policy. New York: Harper & Brothers.page12347–52

7. Surah Al-Anfāl, verse 60.8.

9. Surah Al-Anfal 8:61

10. Al-Imran 3:64

11. Al-Hujurat 49:10

12. Al-Imran 3:103

13. Al-Baqarah 2:153

14. As-Saff 61:5

15. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Hadith 3039

16. Ibn Hisham, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/278

17.Sahih Muslim, Book of Jihad, Hadith 1740

18.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/290

19.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/278–279

20.Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/156

21.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/290

22.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/260

23.Al-Tabari, Tārīkh al-Rusul wa’l-Mulūk, 2/450–460

24.Kandhlawi, Yusuf. Hayat al-Sahaba. Multi-volume biography of the Companions. Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah.

25.Akram & al-Mehri, Khalid Bin Al-Waleed: Sword of Allah; Kandhlawi, Hayat al-Sahaba

26.Kandhlawi, Hayat al-Sahaba

27.Kandhlawi, Yusuf. Hayat al-Sahaba. Multi-volume biography of the Companions. Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah.

28.Nadwi, Al-Wafa bi Asma al-Nisa’; Kandhlawi, Hayat al-Sahaba

29.Surah Al-Anfāl 8:60

30.Surah Al-Nisā’ 4:71

31.Ibn Hishām 2/278–280; Al-Tabari 2/535–540

32.Ibn Kathīr 3/110; Ibn Hishām 2/272–275

33.Al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan 1/215; Mayar Zadeh 2001, 75–76

34.Ibn Hishām 2:239; Al-Waqidi 1:35–36

35.Ibn Kathīr 3:289

36. Surah As-Saff 61:4

37. Al-Ṭabarī 2001, 23:450; Ibn Kathīr 1999, 8:91

38. Ibn Hishām,Kitab al-Saqqā et al, 2/265

39. Al-Bukhārī, Muḥammad ibn Ismāʿīl. 1987

40. Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2:272

41. Al-Ṭabarī, Tārīkh al-Ṭabarī, 2:555

42. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:194

43. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190

44. Surah Al-Hajj 22:39

45. Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim

46. Surah Al-Isra 17:33

47. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Jihād, Hadith 2787; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jihād, Hadith 1731.

48. Al-Muwatta’ of Imam Malik, Book 21, Hadith 22; Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitāb al-Jihād, Hadith 2633.

49. Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jihād, Hadith 1741.

50. Sunan Abu Dawood, Kitāb al-Hudud, Hadith 2650.

51. Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-‘Ilm, Hadith 1; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-‘Ilm, Hadith 1907.

52. Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/266–268

53.Surah An-Nisa 4:71

54.Tafsir Ibn Kathīr, Tafsir al-Qur’an al-‘Azim, 4:71

55.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/272–273

56.Surah An-Nisa 4:102:

57.Surah Al-Munafiqun 63:4

58.Surah Al-Imran: 200

59.Seerat un-Nabi, Tirmidhi, Nasai

60. Hadith, Sunan Abi Dawood, Book 33, Hadith 2784

61.Quran, Surah Al-Anfal, 8:60

62. Quran, Surah At-Tawbah, 9:5

63.Ibn Kathīr Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr, 3:99–103 and al-Ṭabarī Jāmi‘ al-Bayān, 11:159–170

64.Quran, Surah An-Nisa 4:74

65.Quran, Surah An-Nisa 4:95

65.Hadith, Sahih Muslim and others

66. Sahih Muslim 1877-1878

67. Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:190

68. Quran, Surah Al-Imran 3:146

69. Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, vol. 2, pp. 260–265.

70. Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/92–95

71. Al-Imran 3:159

72. Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/272–273

73. Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/92–95

74. Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/268–270

75. Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitab al Jihad The Book of Jihad, Hadith 2671.

76. Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l-Muluk, 2/520–525

77. Ibn Hishām 1955, 2:278–280

78. Ibn Saʿd 1967, 2:45–47

79. Al-Mubārakfūrī 1998, 230

80. Al-Ṭabarī 1967, 2:535–540

81. Al-Waqidī 1966, 1:35–36

82.Ibn Saʿd 1967, 2:45–47

83.Ibn Hishām 1955, 2:278–280

84.Al-Mubārakfūrī 1998, 230

85.Al-Ṭabarī 1967, 2:535–540

86.Ibn Hisham, Sirat Ibn Hisham, Vol. 1, p. 320

87.Quran, An-Nisa: 59

88.Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/110

89.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/278

90.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l-Muluk, 2/535–540

91.Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/110

92.Ibn Hishām, As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, 2/278

93.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l-Muluk, 2/535–540

94.Al-Ṭabarī 1967, 2:535–540

95.Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/118

96.Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, 2/260–265

97.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa’l-Muluk, 2/430–435

98.Ibn Hisham, Sirat al-Nabawiyyah, 2/272–273

99.Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/100–105

100.Ibn Kathīr, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, 3/100–105

101.Ibn Hishām. 1955. As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2. Cairo: Muṣṭafā al-Bābī al-Ḥalabī. 260–265

102.Ibn Hishām. 1955. As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2. Cairo: Muṣṭafā al-Bābī al-Ḥalabī. 272–275

103.Al-Ṭabarī. 1967. Tārīkh al-Rusul wa al-Mulūk, Vol. 2. Cairo: Dār al-Kutub,535–540

104.Al-Baladhurī. 1969. Futūḥ al-Buldān, Vol. 1. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-ʿIlmiyyah , 110–115

105. Ibn Hishām. 1955. As-Sīrah an-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2. Cairo: Muṣṭafā al-Bābī al-Ḥalabī. 278–280

106. Qur’an 3:105

107. Ibn Ishaq. 1955. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press, V 2:220–225

108. Ibn Hishām 1955, 2:272–275

109. Al-Ṭabarī 1967, 2:540–545

110. Gabriel, Richard A. Muhanimad: Islam's First General. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press,p 44

111.Ibn Ishaq. 1955. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. V 2:230–235

112.Ibn Ishaq. 1955. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. V 2:240–245

113.Gabriel, Richard A. Muhammad: Islam's First General Noman University of Oklahoma Press Page 40

114.Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, pp. 322–325; al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, Vol. 3, pp. 162–165

115.Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad, Oxford University Press, 1955, pp. 618–621

116.Al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah, Vol. 4, pp. 179–181

117.Ibn Hisham, Vol. 2, pp. 309–312

118.Muhammad at Medina, Oxford University Press, 1956, pp. 165–170

119.Al-Tabari, Vol. 3, pp. 193–195

120.Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, pp. 305–310

121.Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq, Oxford University Press, 1955, pp. 580–585

122.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, Vol. 3, pp. 210–215

123.Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, pp. 150–155

124.Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, ed. Guillaume, 1955, pp. 221–225

125.Al-Baladhuri, Futuh al-Buldan, 1987, 1:375–380

126 Ibn Hisham 1997, 2:312–315

127.Guillaume 1955, 590–595

128.Muhammad at Medina, Oxford University Press, 1956, pp. 165–170

129.Al-Tabari, Vol. 3, pp. 193–195

130.Ibn Hisham, Sirah Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, p. 412

131.Ibn Hisham, Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, pp. 240–245

132.Al-Tabari, Tārīkh al-Tabari, Vol. 2, pp. 411–415

133.Ibn Ishaq, Sīrat Rasūl Allāh, pp. 296–300 , Al-Waqidi, Kitāb al-Maghāzī, Vol. 1, pp. 40–45

134.Ibn Sa’d, Al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā, Vol. 2, p. 68 , Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 337

135.Sahih Muslim, Hadith 1788, Ibn Kathir, Al-Bidāyah wa’l-Nihāyah, Vol. 4, p. 106

135.Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 4272 ,Ibn Hisham, Vol. 4, pp. 29–32

136.Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 3905

137.Ibn Kathir, Al-Sīrah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 3, pp. 322–325 , Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 623

138.Ibn Hisham, Al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah, Vol. 2, pp. 219–220

139.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Rusul wa al-Muluk, Vol. 3, pp. 122–125

140.Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq, Oxford University Press, 1955, p. 540–545

141.Ibn Hisham, Vol. 2, pp. 219–220

142.Al-Tabari, Vol. 3, pp. 123–124

143.Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad: A Translation of Ibn Ishaq, Oxford University Press, 1955, p. 543–545

144.Qur'an 9:123

145.Ibn Ishaq. 1955. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press. V 2:185–190.

146.Ibn Ishaq. 1955. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press.V 2:192–195.

147.Sahih Muslim. 1979. Kitab al-Jihad wa’l-Siyar. Beirut: Dār al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah1739–1740.

148.Al-Mubarakpuri, Safiur Rahman. 1996. Ar-Raheeq Al-Makhtum: The Sealed Nectar. Riyadh: Dar-us-Salam Publications,134–136.

149.Ibn Ishaq. 1955. Sirat Rasul Allah. Translated by A. Guillaume. Oxford: Oxford University Press,V 2:225–230.

150.Ibn Ishaq 1955, 2:230–235; Al-Tabari 1987, 2:535–540.

151.Al-Tabari 1987, 2:540–545.

152.Gabriel 1997, 45.

153.Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:69

154.Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Hadith 31

155.Sunan Abi Dawud, Kitab al-Jihad, Hadith 2671

156.Ibn Ishaq, Sirat Rasul Allah, Vol. 1, p. 497.

157.Al-Tabari, Tarikh al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 155.

158.Ibn Kathir 1987, 8:142.

159.Ibn Kathir 1987, 8:142.

160. Ibn Ishaq 1955, 2:240–245.

161.Al-Baladhuri 1987, 2:210–215.

162. Ibn Kathir 1987, 8:145.

Downloads

Published

2025-12-20