If someone were to argue, “The ‘Verse of the Sword’ that abrogated disputation is actually the Verse of Permission,” we reply: the Verse of Permission was revealed at the very beginning of the Prophet’s arrival in Medina, before he had sent out any military detachments, and yet after that he continued to debate with the unbelievers.

Likewise, should it be said, “Rather, the verses that made fighting obligatory are the ones that abrogated debate,” we answer: His statement, “Fighting has been prescribed for you” (Quran 2:216), was sent down at the very outset—prior to Badr—and there is no doubt that jihad was already obligatory on the day of Uhud.