Why did Prophet Muhammad waylay the Meccan Caravens?

One of the claims frequently made by anti-Muslim websites is that after Prophet Muhammad emigrated to Medina, he became a warlord and launched offensive wars against the tribes around him for worldly gains.

The truth is that the Meccan aristocracy had been violently intolerant of the new religion from the very beginning. The Muslims were forced to take up arms in defense of their right to practice Islam.

After the Prophet fled to Medina following 13 years of persecution, the Quraish issued an ultimatum to the leadership of Medina that they must kill the Prophet or face war. They wrote to Medina saying:

إِIn this context, Allah revealed a verse allowing the Muslims to defend themselves after having required them to be patiently endure up to this point.

Permission to fight has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. Verily, Allah is able to give them victory. They are those who have been evicted from their homes without right and only because they say: Our Lord is Allah.

Surat al-Hajj 22:39

This verse makes clear that the reason the Muslims were allowed to fight was because they had been driven out and violently oppressed only because of their religion.

As the Meccans were preparing for war, the Muslims prepared to launch raids on their caravans as a means to disrupt their economic war-making capabilities.

What is more, the Meccans had confiscated the property that the Muslims had left behind and were taking it to Syria to be sold for war funds.

Despite suffering this persecution, the Prophet commanded the Muslims to adhere to the highest standard of conduct and he prohibited them from plundering the enemy’s wealth.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited plundering and mutilation.

The Prophet declared that the one who plunders, robs, and loots people is not a true Muslim.

The thief is not a believer while he is stealing. The plunderer is not a believer while he is plundering and the people are watching him.

Whoever plunders the wealth of others is not one of us.

hoever is notorious for plunder is not one of us.

On one occasion, the Prophet saw that some of his companions had looted the enemy’s sheep. He commanded them to return the property to their owners.

Tha’labah ibn Hakam reported: We came across some sheep of the enemy, so we plundered them and set up our cooking pots. The Prophet passed by and ordered that they be overturned. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Verily, plunder is unlawful.

As mentioned in the verse, permission was given to fight back only as a response to aggression. Muslims are allowed to fight for the right to practice Islam and to defend innocent people from oppression. No other motives are permissible, especially not to fight for worldly gains and spoils.

Go forward in the name of Allah, with Allah, and upon the religion of the Messenger of Allah. Do not kill the elderly, children, young people, or women. Do not steal from the spoils but collect them, and behave righteously and in the best manner. Verily, Allah loves those who behave in the best way.

Intercepting caravan trade is similar to economic sanctions by modern day nations

The question is whether the santions have fair and justifiable by international laws

P.A.Mohamed Ameen