Before the rise of Islam, the Ghazi was a group of military warriors whose main purpose was to go on military expeditions and to raid and plunder the surrounding villages. In the medieval Bedouin culture, the Ghazi practised a form of guerilla warfare. They avoided head-on confrontation with their enemies and chose of raid and plunder and catch their enemies unawares. After the rise of Islam, the purpose of the Ghazi changed from raiders to religious warriors. They were often led by the prophet Muhammed.