Through Force or Faith? — Page 150
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 150 the idolaters wherever you find them and take them pris- oners, and beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent and observe Prayer and pay the Zak ā t, then leave their way free. Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful. And if anyone of the idolaters ask protection of thee, grant him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah; then convey him to his place of security. That is because they are a people who have no knowledge ( S u rah at-Taubah, 9:1–6). Explanation: In these verses of S u rah at-Taubah, command is given to fight against the idolaters. However, there is no undue harshness in it because those were the idolaters who had vio- lated the treaties of peace and armistice. Due to this reason, it is enjoined to continue the fight against them until they renounce war and surrender their weapons. This principle is universally acknowledged. As for those who abided by the treaties, no hostil- ity is permitted against them as is mentioned in verse 4. ْمِهْيَلِا ْمُهَدْهَع ىٰلِا ْمِهِتَّدُم١ؕ اَّلِا َنْيِذَّلا ْمُّتْدَهٰع َنِّم َنْيِكِرْشُمْلا َّمُث ْمَل ْمُكْوُصُقْنَي أًـْيَش َّو ْمَل اْوُرِهاَظُي ْمُكْيَلَع اًدَحَا اْۤوُّمِتَاَف Excepting those of the idolaters with whom you have entered into a treaty and who have not fallen short of ful- filling their obligations to you nor aided anyone against you. So fulfil to these the treaty you have made with them till their term ( S u rah at-Taubah, 9:4).