Through Force or Faith? — Page 160
?— A Reply to Pope Benedict XVI 160 those who rebel and join the enemy. However, it is said in the very next verse that if these adversaries belong to such people who have a treaty with you, they are not to be killed; and also if they have reservations about fighting with you. At the end of the next verse, it is categorically stated: ِنِاَف ْمُكْوُلَزَتْعا ْمَلَف ْمُكْوُلِتاَقُي َو اْوَقْلَا ُمُكْيَلِا َمَلَّسلا١ۙ اَمَف َلَعَج ُهّٰللا ْمُكَل ْمِهْيَلَع اًلْيِبَس … So, if they keep aloof from you and fight you not, and make you an offer of peace, then remember that Allah has allowed you no way of aggression against them ( S u rah an-Nis a ’, 4:91). That is, Muslims are advised vis-à-vis these people that if they stay away from you and do not engage in fighting but instead seek peace, you do not have any sanction from Allah to take any action against them. From the referenced section of this verse, it is quite evident that war against the hypocrites is not sanctioned under all circumstances. Permission is only given for defensive measures when they are involved in armed aggression. If they abstain from military action, all counter measures are forbidden. (Deduced from The Holy Quran, Five Volume Commentary, by Hadrat Mirza Bashir-ud-Din Mahmud Ahmad; published by Islam International Publication Limited, and Translation Quran Class by Khalifatul Masih IV rta ) َعَم َنْيِقَّتُمْلااَهُّيَاٰۤي َنْيِذَّلا اْوُنَمٰا اوُلِتاَق َنْيِذَّلا ْمُكَنْوُلَي َنِّم ِراَّفُكْلا َو اْوُدِجَيْل ْمُكْيِف ًةَظْلِغ١ؕ َو اْۤوُمَلْعا َّنَا َهّٰللا O ye who believe! fight such of the disbelievers as are near to you and let them find uncompromising firmness