Through Force or Faith? — Page 155
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 155 if they give expiation tax ( jizya ) or even if they belong to the faction of Arabs who deserve to die because of their previous bloodshed, release them if they convert; and if anyone wishes to hear the word of God, take him into your protection and convey him to his place of safety after he has heard it. It is regrettable that the same God has been assailed. It is regrettable that those people who impugn such sublime and refined teachings, consider the bloodshed of Torah, which did not even spare children, to be sanctioned by God, the Exalted ( Jang-e-Muqaddas, R uha n i Khaz’ a in, vol. 6. p. 264–266). Thus, after considering all these factors, it can be easily understood that there are no coercive teachings here and there is no justifica- tion for any criticism. Think and ponder, O wise ones! َنْوُنْيِدَي َنْيِد ِّقَحْلا َنِم َنْيِذَّلا اوُتْوُا َبٰتِكْلا ىّٰتَح اوُطْعُي َةَيْزِجْلا ْنَع ٍدَّي َّو ْمُه َنْوُرِغٰصاوُلِتاَق َنْيِذَّلا اَل َنْوُنِمْؤُي ِهّٰللاِب َو اَل ِمْوَيْلاِب ِرِخٰاْلا َو اَل َنْوُمِّرَحُي اَم َمَّرَح ُهّٰللا َو ٗهُلْوُسَر َو اَل Fight those from among the people of the Book, who believe not in Allah, nor in the Last Day, nor hold as unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have declared to be unlawful, nor follow the true religion, until they pay the tax with their own hand submissively and acknowl- edge their subjection ( S u rah at-Taubah, 9:29). Explanation: This verse does not imply that fighting with the People of the Book without a valid justification is permitted because the prerequisites for a war have been outlined in detail elsewhere in the Holy Quran. Those will have to be respected in