⦗190–193⦘ “Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not love transgressors.”

These verses contain the command to fight in the way of Allah. This was after the migration to Medina, when the Muslims had become strong enough to fight. Allah then commanded them to do so, after they had previously been commanded to restrain their hands. Specifying that the fighting must be “in the way of Allah” urges sincerity and prohibits fighting during civil strife among Muslims.

“Those who fight you” means those prepared to fight you: legally accountable men, excluding elderly men who can neither contribute counsel nor fight.

The prohibition against transgression encompasses every form of transgression, including killing noncombatants such as women, the insane, children, monks, and others like them; mutilating the slain; killing animals; and cutting down trees [and the like] when doing so serves no interest of the Muslims.

Transgression also includes fighting those from whom jizyah may be accepted when they offer to pay it, for that is impermissible.