Page 70 - Bigotry: The Dark Danger

Bigotry:
The Dark Danger

such people," again emphasizing their immunity. This is the very
definition of justice.

Verse 91 contains a situation described on the basis of the same
conditions. Hypocrites who repent and who say they do not want to
fight later return to fitna and begin attacking Muslims again. In that
event, the provision regarding war is recalled in the Qur'an, saying
that these people are not to be touched as long as they do not attack,

but that if they do, then self-defense is legitimate.
We need to remember that the situation described in the verse

was a specific one that came about during the Battle of Uhud and
concerns those hypocrites who engaged in treachery on the battle-
field and caused the martyrdom of scores of Muslims.

Examination of Verse 5 of Surat at-Tawba:

Then, when the sacred months are over,

kill the polytheists wherever you find

them, and seize them and besiege them
and lie in wait for them on every road. If

they repent and perform their prayers and
pay alms, let them go on their way. God

is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

(Qur'an, 9:5)

In order to understand the conditions in the above verse we

need to start reading from verse 1 of Surat at-Tawba; in that way, we
see that the polytheists deserving to be counter-attacked are not "all

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