The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume II — Page 66
Seal of the Prophets - Volume II 66 else. Allāh the Exalted states: “O ye Muslims! And fight in the cause of Allāh against those who fight against you, but do not transgress, because Allāh loves not the transgressors. And fight those disbelievers who fight against you wherever you meet them. And drive them out from where they have driven you out, i. e. , wherever they desire to forcefully abolish your influence, oppose them. Undoubtedly, the persecution which these people are inflicting is far worse than killing. And fight them not in the area of the Ḥaram. 1 But if they initiate war against you in the Ḥaram, then undoubtedly you should also fight them therein: such is the requital for the ungrateful. And if the disbelievers desist, then know that surely Allāh is Most Forgiving, Merciful. And O ye Muslims! fight the disbelievers until there is no persecution in the land and religion is freely professed for Allāh, i. e. , there remains no fear of anyone except God in the matter of religion and every individual can profess any faith he so desires with freedom of conscience. But if these disbelievers desist from war, then you should also desist immediately. Remember that no hostility is allowed except against the aggressors. ” 2 The purport of this verse is very clear as well, and it becomes evident that Muslims were only given permission for Jihād against those people who fought against them in the matter of religion, and desired to revert them from their faith at the dint of the sword. Moreover, the Muslims were also ordered 1 Sacred proximity of the Ka‘bah [Publishers] 2 Al-Baqarah (2:191-194)