The Truth about the Alleged Punishment for Apostasy in Islam — Page 60
60 commence hostilities against you? Do you fear them? Nay, Allah is most worthy that you should fear Him, if you are believers. " 59 Allah has made it clear: 'We are not commanding you to fight these people either because you have ascendancy over them, or because you are powerful and their necks are securely held in your hands. In fact, they are so strong, and powerful that they are poised to throw the Messenger [of God] and his followers out of the city, What is the nature of their crimes? It is not stated that i. e. , "They turned their backs to Islam, and adopted disbelief". Not at all. Rather, it is stated, i. e. , "They have broken their oaths, and have pre-empted the acts of mischief and transgressions. They are the ones who have first drawn their swords against you. They were the first to start aggression against you. The Command is: " tuq a til u na " * , and not " taqtul u na " ** The imperative form of the verb, tuq a til u na , is itself indicative of the fact that, here, the command to fight is directed against someone who has pre- emptively drawn his sword against you. For according 59 The Holy Qur’an 9:13. [Publisher] * "To fight, in retaliation , against someone who has initiated the fight, e. g. , by drawing his sword against a person". [Publisher] ** "To kill someone" (retaliation is not implied). [Publisher]