قتال
Qitāl
Topic
The Quran’s rules on fighting are limited: against those who attack, in defence, with justice, and ending when they stop.
What it means
Permission to fight was given after years of persecution, to those who are fought, because they were wronged (22:39), and it is limited: “fight in the way of God those who fight you, and do not transgress” (2:190). If the enemy inclines to peace, make peace (8:61). “If they withdraw from you and do not fight you and offer you peace, God has given you no way against them” (4:90). The “sword verse” (9:5) is about those who broke a treaty, and it is followed by 9:6, which says that if a polytheist asks for protection, he must be given it.
Often misunderstood as
That the hadith “I was ordered to fight the people until they say there is no god but God” orders the killing of all non-Muslims.
What the sources say
Scholars such as al-Nawawi and Ibn Hajar explain that “the people” in the report are the idolaters of Arabia, who had attacked the Muslims, and not Jews, Christians or people at peace; the Prophet made treaties with them and took the jizya from the People of the Book. Verses on fighting are tied to their occasions, as asbab al-nuzul explains. The Prophet forbade killing women, children and monks.