[Vince Ferrer]

Don’t they issue this sort of “invitation” right before an attack? I seem to remember something about the call to convert being a precursor to the next step which is deadly to those who do not convert.

Good point, and worth noting.

[kalee]

In the Hadith, Muhammad tells his followers to call people to Islam before waging war against them:
Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah. Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah. Make a holy war…When you meet your enemies who are polytheists, invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withhold yourself from doing them any harm. Invite them to (accept) Islam; if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them….If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya [the tax on non-Muslims specified in Qur’an 9:29]. If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands. If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them. (Sahih Muslim 4294)