وَقَـٰتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ ٱلدِّينُ لِلَّهِ ۖ فَإِنِ ٱنتَهَوْا۟ فَلَا عُدْوَٰنَ إِلَّا عَلَى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ 193
Translations
Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] religion [i.e., worship] is [acknowledged to be] for Allāh. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression [i.e., assault] except against the oppressors.
Transliteration
Wa qatiluhum hatta la takuna fitnah wa yakun al-din lillah fa-in intahaw fa-la udwan illa ala al-zalimin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah commands fighting the disbelievers until fitnah (persecution/oppression) ceases and the deen (religion) is established for Allah alone. Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'fitnah' as the persecution of Muslims and the prevention of religious freedom, not merely non-belief itself. The ayah establishes the just cause for fighting while the final clause provides the crucial condition: if the enemy ceases hostilities, aggression should stop except against those who persist in oppression.
Revelation Context
Revealed in Medina during the period of defensive warfare against the Quraysh and pagan Arab tribes who persecuted Muslims. This ayah is part of the broader context (2:190-194) that legislated fighting in Islam for the first time, permitting self-defense after years of persecution in Mecca. It addresses the specific conditions under which fighting becomes permissible and obligatory.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari 4494: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'I have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity except Allah.' Sunan Abu Dawud 2635: The Prophet forbade killing monks and those who do not fight, emphasizing that fighting is only against those who fight Muslims.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims are commanded to combat oppression and persecution to safeguard religious freedom, not to force conversion or achieve territorial conquest, and must immediately cease hostilities when the enemy stops fighting. This principle teaches that Islamic warfare has defined objectives centered on justice and freedom of conscience, with strict ethical boundaries that transcend mere military victory.
Related Ayahs
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
يُخَـٰدِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّآ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ
They [think to] deceive Allāh and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not.
۞ أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ خَرَجُوا۟ مِن دِيَـٰرِهِمْ وَهُمْ أُلُوفٌ حَذَرَ ٱلْمَوْتِ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مُوتُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَحْيَـٰهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضْلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَشْكُرُونَ
Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? Allāh said to them, "Die"; then He restored them to life. And Allāh is the possessor of bounty for the people, but most of the people do not show gratitude.
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَـٰمُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى ٱللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ ٱلصَّـٰعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَ
And [recall] when you said, "O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allāh outright"; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.