The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 312
CH. 2 AL-BAQARAH PT. 2 وَقْتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ And fight them until there. 194 is no persecution, and religion is الدِّينُ لِلهِ فَإِنِ انْتَهَوْا فَلَا عُدْوَانَ professed for Allah. But if they إِلَّا عَلَى الظَّلِمِينَ desist, then remember that no hostility is allowed except against the aggressors. 200 "8:40; See 2:191. diverse torments on Muslims, turning them out of their homes and making their lives miserable and creating chaos and disorder in the land, they are to be forgiven and treated mercifully if they desist from fighting. Nay, God even promises them His forgiveness and mercy if they so desist. 200. Important Words: (religion) has a number of meanings including (1) religion; (2) rule and government (Aqrab). See also 1:4. (hostility) is derived from c. They say se meaning, he passed beyond it. The expression alue means, he acted wrongfully towards him or he exceeded the proper limit against him. The words se mean, he treated him with enmity and hostility. Thus means: (1) hostility; (2) wrongful conduct; (3) punishment for wrongful conduct and; (4) approach or way to a person by way of justification or excuse against him (Munjid, Mufradāt & Lane). Commentary: This verse is often quoted by the opponents of Islam in support of their allegation that the Quran inculcates the carrying-on of war against unbelievers until all traces of false 312 verse فتنة is religions are wiped out and the whole world embraces Islam. But such a view is clearly wrong. The word which throws light on the true significance of this (persecution) which, as has been explained in the preceding verse, means religious persecution. This verse therefore enjoins Muslims to fight only till persecution for religion is over. It is on record that during the war between Hadrat ‘Alī and Mu'awiyah, ‘Abdullāh, son of ‘Umar, was once asked why he did not take part in the war when the Quran enjoined the Muslims to fight to put an end to a. He replied: "We did indeed act upon this injunction of the Quran when in the time of the Holy Prophet the number of Muslims was small and a man was subjected to a i. e. persecution for his religious beliefs, being either put to death outright or tortured, until at last Islam spread and the " was over" (Bukhārī, ch. on Tafsir). These words of 'Abdullāh, son of 'Umar, leave no doubt that the word as in this verse means persecution for religious beliefs and nothing else. Muslims are enjoined to fight until there is no a i. e. no persecution for religious beliefs. The words that follow, i. e. and