Through Force or Faith? — Page 159
Chapter 2 — Islamic Teachings about Jihad 159 you not, and make you an offer of peace, then remember that Allah has allowed you no way of aggression against them. You will find others who desire to be secure from you and to be secure from their own people. Whenever they are made to revert to hostility, they fall headlong into it. Therefore, if they do not keep aloof from you nor offer you peace nor restrain their hands, then seize them and kill them, wherever you find them. Against these We have given you clear authority ( S u rah an-Nis a ’, 4:89–92). Explanation: In verse 90 of the aforementioned verses, the words ْ فَخُذُوهُم ْ وَاقْتُلُوهُم [seize them and kill them] are targeted for criticism that here Muslims are being exhorted to kill and plunder. Such critics present only this verse, but if it is read with reference to context, no room for any objection is left. A study of these verses collectively shows that here hypocrites are being mentioned and it is said with reference to them that َ وَدُّوا ْ لَو ْ تَكْفُرُون it is their deep desire that the faithful should become disbelievers even as they are. Allah, the Exalted, cautions Muslims here not to make such hypocrites their helpers because they are not sincere with them and, by so doing, they would jeopardize national interests. ِّ ل ِ الل ی ِ حَتَّى َ يُهَاجِرُوا ْ فِي سَب —That is, continue to deal with them in this manner until they renounce such efforts and become sincere comrades of Muslims. ْ فَإِن تَوَلَّو -But if they turn their backs, that is, they rebel and openly side with enemies and wage war with you, you ought to deal with them as other invaders are to be dealt with. ْ ْث ُ ثِقِفْتُمُوهُم ی َ وَاقْتُلُوهُم ْ ح That is, in the course of the war do not show any leniency wherever you encounter them. Clearly it concerns