Opinion: The slaves of verse 5 of Surat al-Tawba

CAIRO - 19 August 2017: A US researcher who was studying with me at some point sent me several interpretations of the verse 5 from Surat al-Tawba and asked me to help him understand because he found it written on some of the sites of alleged Jihadists.

Having explained to him what I understand from it, I told him that the problem of the alleged jihadists was that they read only verse 5 from Surat al-Tawba and did not read what preceded or followed, so they’ve gone astray and misled others

The fifth verse of Surah al-Tawba says:

When the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them. And capture them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayers, and pay the alms, then let them go their way. God is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. (5)

If we read the previous and subsequent verses of this verse, we will find its interpretation:

1 A declaration of immunity from God and His Messenger to the polytheists with whom you had made a treaty.

2 So travel the land for four months, and know that you cannot escape God, and that God will disgrace the disbelievers.

3 And a proclamation from God and His Messenger to the people on the day of the Greater Pilgrimage, that God has disowned the polytheists, and so did His Messenger. If you repent, it will be better for you. But if you turn away, know that you cannot escape God. And announce to those who disbelieve a painful punishment.

4 Except for those among the polytheists with whom you had made a treaty, and did not violate any of its terms, nor aided anyone against you. So fulfill the treaty with them to the end of its term. God loves the righteous.

5 When the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them. And capture them, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush. But if they repent, and perform the prayers, and pay the alms, then let them go their way. God is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.

6 And if anyone of the polytheists asks you for protection, give him protection so that he may hear the Word of God; then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.

It’s like saying: who promised us and did not lack anything (betray us) and we didn't cooperate with our enemies." This is the content of the verses from the first to the fourth.

The fifth verse is related to who betrayed us, and we have to fight them because they fought or conspired to kill us. And even among them there may be someone who is appealing to you, so you must reconcile with them.