This is because in the two verses after the above quoted verse, Allah says, And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allâh) and (all and every kind of) worship is for Allâh (Alone). This indicates
all disbelievers and polytheists, not just those who actually fight, so that every kind of worship will be for Allah Alone, and to put an end to Fitnah i.e. disbelief and polytheism or people causing each other to give up the religion. Polytheism is, therefore, called Fitnah, as Allah (Exalted be He) says, And AlFitnah is worse than killing. A lFitnah, here, means associating others with Allah in worship. The word may also be used to refer to some of the wrongdoings committed by some disbelievers such as killing people, violating their rights or enforcing them to deny Allah's Divinity. Therefore, Allah demanded that they should be fought until there is no more Fitnah, i.e. to prevent the occurrence of polytheism and the injustice of the disbelievers against the Muslims whether by opposing them, fighting them or causing them to leave the right path. Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) says inSurah AlNisa',
They wish that you reject Faith, as they have rejected (Faith), and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Auliyâ' (protectors or friends) from them, till they emigrate in the Way of Allâh (to Muhammad ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳﻠﻢ). But if they turn back (from Islâm), take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Auliyâ' (protectors or friends) nor helpers from them. Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with their breasts restraining from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. Had Allâh willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace, then Allâh has opened no way for you against them.
have security from you and security from their people. Every time they are sent back to temptation, they yield thereto. If they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace, nor restrain their hands, take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them. In their case, We have provided you with a clear warrant against them.
Many Muslim scholars said, "These verses indicate that Allah (Exalted be He) ordered His Prophet (peace be upon him) to fight those who fought against them and to stop any fighting with those who had stopped fighting against them." Then, He (Exalted be He) revealed a verse called "the verse of the sword (Ayat AlSayf)" inSurah AlTawbah;as He (Exalted be He) says,
Then when the Sacred Months (the 1st, 7th, 11th, and 12th months of the Islâmic calendar) have passed, then kill the Mushrikûn (See V.2:105) wherever you find them, and capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush. But if they repent and perform AsSalât (IqâmatasSalât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Verily, Allâh is OftForgiving, Most Merciful.
Our scholars (may Allah have mercy upon them) said, "This verse abrogates all the previous verses that indicated forgiveness and the prevention of fighting those of the polytheists who had stopped fighting against the Muslims, and those of the polytheists who did not fight against the Muslims. The verse of the sword indicates preparing, girding up loins, and sacrificing properties and souls for fighting Allah's enemies until they enter Allah's Religion, repent to Allah, establish the prayer, and pay Zakah (almsgiving). By doing so, they [the new converters] will have their blood and properties spared, except in cases when Islam states that there is a right over them (due to their violating any laws whose punishment entails confiscation of properties or blood)."
It is wellknown that the Muslim scholars indicated that this verse and the verses that carry the same meaning abrogate the verses that were revealed before them in which Muslims were ordered to forgive and refrain from fighting the polytheists who had stopped fighting against the Muslims. The following verses indicate the same meaning; Allah (Exalted be He) says inSurah AlAnfal,
And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allâh) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allâh Alone [in the whole of the world].
Also, He (Exalted be He) saysin Surah AlTawbah, and fight against the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh) collectively as they fight against you collectively. But know that Allâh is with those who are AlMuttaqûn (the pious). Also, He (Exalted be He) says in the same Surah, Fight against those who (1) believe not in Allâh, (2) nor in the Last Day, (3) nor forbid that which has been forbidden by Allâh and His Messenger Muhammad (ﺻﻠﻰ ﺍﷲ ﻋﻠﻴﻪ ﻭﺳـﻠﻢ) (
Thus, Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) orders Muslims to fight the People of the Book until they pay the Jizyah (polltax) with willing submission and feel subdued. Allah did not say what means, "Until they pay the Jizyah or stop fighting Muslims", He (Exalted be He) said what means, "Until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission and feel themselves subdued." Also, He (Exalted be He) says in the verse of the sword, But if they repent and perform AsSalât (Iqâmat asSalât), and give Zakât, then leave their way free. Also, He (Exalted be He) says in another verse,
But if they repent, perform AsSalât (IqâmatasSalât) and give Zakât, then they are your brethren in religion. This denotes that the disbelievers should not be tolerated till they repent of their disbelief, return to Allah's True Religion and cling to His Shari`ah. If they did so, we should stop fighting them and they would have the same rights as other Muslims have, and have the same responsibilities as them as well. However, if the People of the Book pay the Jizyah with willing submission and feel subdued, we should stop fighting them even if they did not embrace Islam. As for others, we should fight them until they embrace Islam. The Magins are treated like the People of the Book; as AlBukhary narrated in his Sahihthat `AbdulRahman Ibn `Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said, The Prophet (peace be upon him) took the Jizyah from the Magi of Hajar Thus, the Magi are treated like the People of the Book in terms of taking the Jizyah from them, but not in terms of marrying their women or eating their food. These three groups are obligated to pay Jizyah; Muslim scholars agreed that if they did not embrace Islam, they would be fought until they pay the Jizyah. Taking Jizyah from them is a temporary case until `Eisa (Jesus, peace be upon him) descends to earth at the end of time. When he (peace be upon him) descends, no Jizyah will be; as they will have to embrace Islam or be fought. This is
the way of Muhammad (peace be upon him), which `Eisa (peace be upon him) will adopt after descending to the earth, as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) asserted. All Hadith that deal with this issue denote that taking the Jizyah is temporary until the descent of `Eisa (peace be upon him). At that time, `Eisa (peace be upon him) will not ask them to pay the Jizyah but he will fight them if they do not embrace Islam. This is according to the Shari`ah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) who confirmed and approved this; hence, this denotes that this will occur at the end of time, according to his Shari`ah.