he is swearing an oath as the wronged party. For if someone says, “Fight the People of the Book, show enmity towards them, and hate them, unless they pay the jizyah (poll tax),” the exception applies only to the first clause. Allah, Glorified be He, has said:

“Let not the believers take the disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Whoever does so has no connection with Allah, unless you protect yourselves against them as a precaution.”

This exception apparently applies to the first clause. He, Glorified be He, also said:

“A declaration of release from obligations, from Allah and His Messenger, to those polytheists with whom you have made treaties. So travel freely throughout the land for four months”—up to His words—“except those polytheists with whom you have made treaties and who have not failed you in anything or supported anyone against you. Fulfil your treaty with them until its term has ended.”

This is not an exception to what immediately precedes it, but rather to the opening statement.

A number of scholars have said, concerning His words, “You would have followed Satan, except a few,” that “a few” refers back to His words, “When news of security or fear comes to them, they broadcast it”—“except a few.” Thus, this exception applies to a clause separated from it by several other clauses.

“Earlier and later placement in the Quran” is a field of study on which scholars, including Imam Ahmad and others, have written, and it encompasses this case. A similar case is when an exception comes later in the wording but belongs earlier in the intended meaning.

Moreover, only someone unfamiliar with Arabic would deny that its word order permits earlier and later placement, or that a parenthetical clause may separate a coordinated element from the element to which it is joined, or separate other elements. He, Glorified be He, has said: “A group of the People of the Book said, ‘Believe in what has been sent down to those who