97 – And His words: “Fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly for Allah; but if they desist, then there is no aggression except against the wrongdoers. The sacred month is for the sacred month, and for all sanctities there is equitable retaliation. So whoever attacks you, attack him in the same way that he attacked you, and fear Allah and know that Allah is with the God-fearing. And spend in the way of Allah; do not throw yourselves with your own hands into destruction, and do good, for Allah loves the doers of good” (Al-Baqarah 2:193-195).

98 – All these verses revolve around the command to wage jihad in the path of Allah and to spend wealth for His sake. They cannot possibly contain a prohibition of that which perfects jihad—even if it involves exposing oneself to martyrdom—for death is inevitable, and the noblest death is the death of martyrs.

99 – It is inconceivable that revelation would command something and then forbid its completion; what fits the context is a prohibition of whatever diverts one from it. Hence the verse forbids aggression, for jihad brings hardship upon the enemy and the human soul may overstep Allah’s limits, following its own whims. Thus He said: “Do not transgress, for Allah does not love the transgressors” (Al-Baqarah 2:190).

100 – He therefore forbade aggression, for that is an injunction to observe piety, and Allah is with the people of piety, as He said: “Whoever attacks you, attack him in the same manner that he attacked you; and fear Allah, and know that Allah is with the God-fearing” (Al-Baqarah 2:194).