that he accepted the religion of the disbelievers, and then he added, “This verse has been abrogated; therefore he must have been content with the disbelievers’ religion.” This is patent falsehood and sheer slander against Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—for he never approved of anything except the religion of Allah, the faith with which He sent His messengers and revealed His scriptures. Not once did he consent to the religion of the disbelievers, whether idolaters or People of the Book.

As for his statement,

“To you your religion, and to me mine” ⦗al-Kāfirūn 109:6⦘,

it does not show that he was pleased with their religion, nor even that he allowed them to remain upon it unchallenged. Rather, it affirms his disavowal of their religion. Hence the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said, “This surah is a declaration of disavowal from idolatry.”

A parallel verse is the Almighty’s saying:

“If they deny you, then say, ‘My deeds are mine and your deeds are yours. You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do.’” ⦗Yūnus 41⦘.

Likewise His words:

“Therefore, call to that way and remain steadfast as you have been commanded; do not follow their whims. Say, ‘I believe in whatever Book Allah has sent down, and I have been commanded to deal justly among you. Allah is our Lord and your Lord. Our deeds are for us and your deeds for you.’” ⦗al-Shūrā 15⦘.

Some people also imagine that the phrase “To you your religion, and to me mine” ⦗al-Kāfirūn 109:6⦘ means that I neither command fighting nor forbid it, and that I do not address the matter by negation