Tafsir al-Sadi - Abd al-Rahman al-Sadi’ - (329)

Tafsir al-SadiAbd al-Rahman al-Sadi’

(5) “Then, when the sacred months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them, take them captive, besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then let them go their way. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Allah says, “Then, when the sacred months have passed”—that is, the months during which it was forbidden to fight the polytheists who had treaties. These are the four months granted for free movement, together with the remainder of the term for anyone whose treaty was for longer. Once that has elapsed, they no longer enjoy covenantal protection.

“Kill the polytheists wherever you find them,” at any place and time; “take them captive; and besiege them”—that is, restrict them. Do not allow them to move freely throughout the lands and earth of Allah, which [Allah] has made a place of worship for His servants.

Such people are not fit to dwell there, nor do they deserve even a span of it, for the earth belongs to Allah, and they are His enemies, openly opposing Him and His messengers. They wage war and seek to rid the earth of His religion, but Allah insists upon perfecting His light, though the disbelievers hate it.

“And lie in wait for them at every place of ambush”—that is, at every mountain pass and every place through which they may travel. Remain stationed for battle against them and exert your utmost effort in doing so. Continue in this manner until they repent of their polytheism.

Hence He says, “But if they repent” of their polytheism, “establish prayer”—that is, perform it with all its due requirements—“and give zakah” to those entitled to it, “then let them go their way”—that is, leave them alone and let them become like you, possessing the same rights as you and bearing the same obligations.

“Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” He forgives polytheism and all lesser sins for those who repent, and He shows them mercy by enabling them to repent and then accepting their repentance.

This verse also proves that anyone who refuses to perform the prayer or pay zakah must be fought until he fulfills them, as Abu Bakr al-Siddīq (may Allah be pleased with him) cited it as evidence.

﴿٥﴾ ﴿فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الأشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ فَإِنْ تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ﴾ . يقول تعالى ﴿فَإِذَا انْسَلَخَ الأشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ﴾ أي: التي حرم فيها قتال المشركين المعاهدين، وهي أشهر التسيير الأربعة، وتمام المدة لمن له مدة أكثر منها، فقد برئت منهم الذمة. ﴿فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدْتُمُوهُمْ﴾ في أي مكان وزمان، ﴿وَخُذُوهُمْ﴾ أسرى ﴿وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ﴾ أي: ضيقوا عليهم، فلا تدعوهم يتوسعون في بلاد الله وأرضه، التي جعلها [الله] معبدا لعباده. فهؤلاء ليسوا أهلا لسكناها، ولا يستحقون منها شبرا، لأن الأرض أرض الله، وهم أعداؤه المنابذون له ولرسله، المحاربون الذين يريدون أن يخلو الأرض من دينه، ويأبى الله إلا أن يتم نوره ولو كره الكافرون. ﴿وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ﴾ أي: كل ثنية وموضع يمرون عليه، ورابطوا في جهادهم وابذلوا غاية مجهودكم في ذلك، ولا تزالوا على هذا الأمر حتى يتوبوا من شركهم. ولهذا قال: ﴿فَإِنْ تَابُوا﴾ من شركهم ﴿وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلاةَ﴾ أي: أدوها بحقوقها ﴿وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ﴾ لمستحقيها ﴿فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ﴾ أي: اتركوهم، وليكونوا مثلكم، لهم ما لكم، وعليهم ما عليكم. ﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ﴾ يغفر الشرك فما دونه، للتائبين، ويرحمهم بتوفيقهم للتوبة، ثم قبولها منهم. وفي هذه الآية، دليل على أن من امتنع من أداء الصلاة أو الزكاة، فإنه يقاتل حتى يؤديهما، كما استدل بذلك أبو بكر الصديق ﵁.