Sulaiman bin Buraidah narrated from his father, who said: Whenever the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) appointed someone as the commander of a military detachment, he would advise him:“When you meet your polytheist enemy, invite them to three things. Accept whichever of these three traits they agree to, and do not fight them. These three things are: Invite them to Islam. If they agree to it, accept it from them and refrain from harming them (i.e., do not harm their lives or property). Then tell them to migrate from their land to the land of the Muhajirun, and inform them that if they do so, they will have the same rights and obligations as the Muhajirun; the same punishments (for offenses) that apply to the Muhajirun will apply to them. If they refuse to migrate, their status will be like that of Muslim villagers, and Allah’s ruling that applies to Muslims will apply to them, but they will not have any share in the spoils of war or in any wealth obtained without battle, except if they fight alongside the Muslims. If they refuse to accept Islam, then tell them to pay the jizyah. If they agree to pay the jizyah, accept it from them and refrain from harming them (their lives and property are protected as they have become dhimmis). If they refuse to pay the jizyah, then seek Allah’s help and fight them. If you besiege a fortress and its people ask you for the protection of Allah and His Messenger (i.e., they seek amnesty), do not grant them the protection of Allah and His Messenger, but grant them your own protection, or that of your father or your companions, because if you break your own or your forefathers’ protection, it is easier than breaking the protection of Allah and His Messenger. If you besiege a fortress and its people wish to come out on the condition of Allah’s judgment, do not let them out on that condition, but only on your own judgment, because you do not know whether you will be able to carry out Allah’s judgment regarding them or not. After that, decide about them as you wish.”