Arguments from the Quran

INTERPRETATION OF THE ISLAMIC MISSION this command is to fight them until they are either killed or forced to abandon shirk and accept Islam. This interpretation is unanimously transmitted from Ibn Abbas, Abu al-‘Aliyah, Mujahid ibn Jabr, Sa’id ibn Jubayr, Hasan al-Basri, Qatadah ibn Di’amah, Dhahhak ibn Muzahim, Al-Rabi ibn Anas, Maqatil ibn Hayyan, Al-Suddi, and Zayd ibn Aslam (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 1, p. 227). These are all early authorities of Islamic scholarship, particularly known for their contributions to Quranic interpretation. After quoting this opinion, Ibn Kathir writes: This interpretation is supported by the narrations in the two Sahih collections (Bukhari and Muslim), which state that The Prophet œ said: “I have been commanded to fight the people until they say with their tongues, ‘There is no deity but Allah.’ Once they acknowledge this word, they will protect their lives and property from me, except in cases where they incur a right against them, and their account is with Allah.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Vol. 2, p. 309). Similarly, Alusi Al-Bhagdadi writes: In this verse, fitnah refers to polytheism, as narrated from Qatadah, Sudi, and others. This interpretation is supported by the fact that for the polytheists of Arabia, the options are either Islam or the sword; there is no alternative. As stated in another part of the Quran, Allah says, “You fight them or they submit.” (Ruh al-Ma’ani, Vol. 1, p. 427)