Islam and the Freedom of Conscience — Page 58
~ 58 ~ 26 This verse does not declare that it is also your task to battle with them. It is evident from this that war was only meant for the criminal minded people who killed the Muslims, created disorder in the public, and were engaged in theft and robbery. These wars were fought in the capacity of a King and not in the capacity of prophethood. As Allah the Exalted declares: 27 And fight in the cause of Allah against those who fight against you, but do not transgress. Surely, Allah loves not the transgressors. 28 How could it be that a Prophet as holy as him sa , to whom this Sharia was revealed, would contravene the directives that were Divinely revealed to him? Indeed, he had declared general amnesty at the victory of Mecca without the clause that protection was conditional on accepting 26 And say to those who have been given the Book and to the unlearned, 'Have you submitted?' If they submit, then they will surely be guided; but if they turn back, then thy duty is only to convey the message. S u rah A l ‐ e ‐ ‘Imr a n, 3:21 27 S u rah Al ‐ Baqarah, 2:191 28 Chashma’ ‐ e ‐ Ma‘rifat , Ru ha n i Khaz a ’in, vol. 23, pp. 242 ‐ 243