has influence and openly manifests his hypocrisy, yet enforcing the prescribed punishment against him would provoke a turmoil greater than leaving him be, we act upon the verse, “So turn away from them and bear with their hurt” (Q 33:48). In the same vein, when we are unable to wage jihad against the unbelievers, we follow the verse that commands restraint and forgiveness; but whenever strength and honor are attained, we are addressed with His words: “Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites” (Q 9:73).

The Grand Mufti of the Saudi lands, His Eminence Shaykh ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Bāz (1), may Allah have mercy on him, after mentioning the second stage through which jihad passed in Islam, said:

“Some scholars maintain that the second stage—fighting only those who fight the Muslims and sparing those who leave them alone—was abrogated. That stage applied when the Muslims were weak; once Allah strengthened them and increased their numbers and equipment, they were commanded to fight both those who fought them and those who did not, until the entire religion is for Allah alone, or, if they are among those eligible, until they pay the jizyah.

Other scholars, however, hold that the second stage has not been abrogated; rather…”