16
“But if they repent” from polytheism, “establish prayer, and give zakah, then let them go their way.” That is: leave them to move freely throughout their cities and to enter Mecca. “Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving” toward whoever repents, “Most Merciful” to him.
Al-Husayn ibn al-Fadl said: This verse abrogated every verse in the Quran that mentions turning away and patiently bearing the harm caused by enemies (1).
“And if any of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the word of Allah. Then convey him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.” (6)
(1) It was previously noted that some scholars went too far in this matter, holding that the Sword Verse abrogates every verse in the Quran that enjoins patience, pardon, or peaceful conduct. This view is untenable, for there is no contradiction between these verses. Rather, as al-Zarkashi and others state, they belong to al-munsa' (deferred rulings), not to the abrogated verses.
﴿فَإِنْ تَابُوا﴾ مِنَ الشِّرْكِ، ﴿وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ﴾ يَقُولُ: دَعُوهُمْ فَلْيَتَصَرَّفُوا فِي أَمْصَارِهِمْ وَيَدْخُلُوا مَكَّةَ، ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ﴾ لِمَنْ تَابَ، ﴿رَحِيمٌ﴾ بِهِ.
وَقَالَ الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ: هَذِهِ الْآيَةُ نَسَخَتْ كُلَّ آيَةٍ فِي الْقُرْآنِ فِيهَا ذِكْرُ الْإِعْرَاضِ وَالصَّبْرِ عَلَى أَذَى الْأَعْدَاءِ (١) .
﴿وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ اسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّى يَسْمَعَ كَلَامَ اللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُ ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (٦) ﴾ .
(١) تقدم في مناسبة سابقة أن بعض العلماء ﵏ قد توسع في هذه القضية، فجعل آية السيف ناسخة لكل آية في القرآن فيها أمر بالصبر أو الصفح أو المسالمة، ولا يسلم لهم ذلك فإنه لا تنافي بينها، وهي من "المنسأ" كما يقول الزركشي وغيره، وليست من المنسوخ.