Ibn Awn, may Allah have mercy on him, says that I wrote a letter to Nafi', may Allah have mercy on him, in which I asked him whether the polytheists were invited (to Islam) before fighting. He wrote back to me in reply that this used to happen in the beginning of Islam, and when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) attacked Banu Mustaliq, those people were unaware and their animals were drinking water. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) killed their fighting men, took the rest captive, and on that same day, Lady Juwayriya bint al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with her) came into his share. This hadith has been narrated to me by Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both), who participated in the army.