And fight against them until there is no fitnah446 and [until] the religion [i.e., worship], all of it, is for Allāh.447 And if they cease - then indeed, Allāh is Seeing of what they do.
Notes
[446] Persecution. See footnote to 2:191.
[447] i.e., until polytheism is no longer dominant.
Verse 39 of Surah Al-Anfal (8:39), a Medinan surah, is in juz 9, on page 181 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 72 reciters.
Listen to verse 39 of Surah Al-Anfal
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Tafsir of verse 39
Al-Mukhtasar
O believers, fight your disbelieving enemies until there is no more idolatry or Muslims being stopped from Allah’s religion, when religion and obedience is for Allah alone without any partner being put alongside Him. If the disbelievers stop their idolatry and preventing Muslims from Allah’s religion, then leave them, because Allah sees what they do and nothing is hidden from Him.
Fight them until there is no more persecution22 and the religion is entirely for Allah; but if they desist, then Allah is All-Seeing of what they do.
Notes
[22] Among the meanings of "fitnah" are: disbelief and its imposition on others, dissension, trial, and torment. See 2:191.
And fight them until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and polytheism, i.e. worshipping others besides Allâh) and the religion (worship) will all be for Allâh Alone [in the whole of the world4]. But if they cease (worshipping others besides Allâh), then certainly, Allâh is All-Seer of what they do.5
Notes
[4] (V.8:39) It is mentioned by some of the Islâmic religious scholars that, that will be at the time when ‘Îsâ (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) عليهما السلام, will descend on the earth, and he will not accept any other religion except Islâm - The True Religion of Allâh - Islâmic Monotheism).
[5] (V.8:39)
A) See the footnote of (V.2:193).
B) Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "By Him (Allâh) in whose Hand my soul is, surely, the son of Maryam (Mary) [‘Îsâ (Jesus)] عليهما السلامwill shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims), and will judge mankind justly by the Law of the Qur’ân (as a just ruler), and will break the cross and kill the pigs and abolish the Jizyah [a tax taken from the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) who are under the protection of a Muslim government. This Jizyah tax will not be accepted by ‘Îsâ (Jesus) عليه السلام and all mankind will be required to embrace Islâm with no other alternative]. Then there will be abundance of money and nobody will accept charitable gifts." (See Fath Al-Bari, Vol. 7, Pages No.304 and 305 for details). (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.3 Hadîth No.425).
And fight them until persecution is no more, and religion is all for Allah. But if they cease, then lo! Allah is Seer of what they do.
And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in Allah altogether and everywhere; but if they cease, verily Allah doth see all that they do.
And fight with them until there is no more persecution and religion should be only for Allah; but if they desist, then surely Allah sees what they do.
And fight them, till there is no temptation (Or: sedition, persecution) and the religion is all for Allah; so in case they refrain, then surely Allah is Ever-Beholding whatever they do.
وَهَلْ تَدْرِي مَا الْفِتْنَةُ كَانَ مُحَمَّدٌ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُقَاتِلُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ، وَكَانَ الدُّخُولُ عَلَيْهِمْ فِتْنَةً، وَلَيْسَ كَقِتَالِكُمْ عَلَى الْمُلْكِ.
And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allāh. And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allāh loves those who act justly.
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allāh has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
And when the inviolable months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakāh, let them [go] on their way. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] religion [i.e., worship] is [acknowledged to be] for Allāh. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression [i.e., assault] except against the oppressors.
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