and would only have emboldened the unbelievers against the Muslims.

Stage Two: After the Prophet ﷺ emigrated to Madinah and an Islamic polity was in place, he was granted permission to fight, though he was not yet commanded to do so: “Permission is granted to those who are being fought because they have been wronged—Allah is indeed able to grant them victory—those who were driven from their homes unjustly, only for saying: ‘Our Lord is Allah.’ Had Allah not repelled some people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s name is much mentioned would surely have been demolished.” (Q 22:39-40) Thus they were given permission without a binding order; it served as a preparation, for Allah introduces demanding obligations gradually so that souls may accept them more easily.

Stage Three: They were then commanded to fight those who fought them and to refrain from those who did not: “Fight in the path of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress; Allah does not love the transgressors.” (Q 2:190). This is known as defensive fighting (qitāl al-dafʿ).

Stage Four: Once the Muslims had grown strong, acquired formidable power, and Islam had a state of its own, they were ordered to fight without restriction: “When the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush.” (Q 9:5) and “Fight them until there is no persecution and religion is entirely for Allah.” (Q 8:39).

Thus Allah issued an unqualified command to wage war. When the Muslims were fully prepared, possessed strength, and had the necessary readiness, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ set out on expeditions—Badr and Uhud.