The peace remained unbroken until the Koreish violated the treaty of Hodeibia[161] and treacherously killed several men of the Bani Khozaá. Mohammad marched against them in the eighth year of the Hegira in defence of the injured and oppressed Bani Khozaá, and to chastize the Koreish for violation of the treaty. But the Koreish submitted to the authority of Mohammad before he arrived at Mecca, and the city was occupied without resistance.
16. Two other tribes assume the offensive.
Soon after, the great and warlike tribe of Hawazin and Thakeef assumed the offensive. They assembled at Autas, and advanced upon Honain to attack Mohammad. He was obliged to leave Mecca and set out to disperse them, who were beaten back at Honain (S. ix, 26-28). Taif of the Thakeef was besieged, but in vain.
The defensive character of the wars.
17. Verses from the Koran in support of the defensive character of the wars.
This brief sketch of the defensive wars of Mohammad with the Koreish will fully show, that those who assert that Mohammad was aggressive or revengeful in his wars, or that he made war to force his religion upon the people, are altogether in the wrong.
I will now quote some verses of the Koran, showing that all the wars of Mohammad with the Koreish were defensive wars.
39. "Verily, God will ward off[162] mischief from believers: lo, God loveth not the false, the unbeliever."
40. "A sanction is given to those who have been fought,[163] because they have suffered outrages, and verily, God is well able to succour them"—