(This article is dedicated to the People of the Book)
Fight against those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
Surah At-Tawbah 9:29
Really? Do I really need to kill my Christians & Jews brothers and friends according to this verse? You should be dead by now if verse 9:29 actually meant what you think it does. So, why are you still alive?
Something is Off
If you live in a Muslim country, or surrounded by Muslim friends, or maybe your family members have embracing Islam, you should question them, why they have not kill you yet. Are we (Muslim) misinterpreting the verse, or ignoring it because of whatever reason, or maybe, you are the one who don’t understand the verse?
The masonic media have played a significant role in portraying Islam as a barbaric cult and Muslims as barbarians who blow themselves up or slaughter people arbitrarily. Meanwhile, those who don’t bother to research the truth simply swallow everything shoveled down their throats.
Perhaps academics, scientists, and journalists like Dr. Jeffrey Lang, Dr. Maurice Bucaille, Bruno Guiderdoni, Gary Miller, Lauren Booth, and Yvonne Ridley embraced Islam because they somehow overlooked this “brutal” verse? There are many academics who are “blind” like these people, but to keep things short, let’s cut to the real question: What the heck is this verse actually all about?
Ok, What It’s All About?
It’s about fighting the Christians. Period.
Calm down.
First, you got the meaning of the word “taqiya” wrong. You might want to look it up before using it. Using it in the wrong context makes you look like a complete idiot.
Secondly, we need to scrutinize the verse carefully. I get it—diving into tafsirs and scholarly works can feel intimidating for some people. Honestly, it’s the same for me, especially when faced with a wall of text that requires careful reading and effort to comprehend what the author is trying to convey. But trust me, the effort is worth it.
It is impossible for the people I mentioned above to embrace Islam simply because of the beauty of one or two verses while neglecting the rest that might sound barbaric. I mean, changing religion is a big deal and has a significant impact on our lives, including social aspects, stigma from family, and so on. These people are bright, intelligent, and will definitely study everything thoroughly before making such a big move.
We will approach this in two ways. First, we’ll examine it superficially without delving into tafsirs or scholarly work. Then, inevitably, we’ll move on to hadiths, to see the context and history behind it. The Quran wasn’t revealed to Rasulullah in one shot on a tablet like Moses had. The revelation happened stage by stage for 23 years, most of them as a response to certain events or answering questions by the people. In Islamic study there is something called Asbabun Nuzul, which literally means The Cause of Revelations. Don’t worry—we’ll keep things simple, and I’ll provide citations.
Without further ado…
Let’s Fight
Wait…what?!
How?
It’s obvious. Just by superficially looking at the verse, one can tell it’s asking me to fight you. Now, there are many ways we can fight each other. We might put a yoke of iron upon the neck, as described in Deuteronomy 28, rip open the bellies of pregnant women, as in Hosea 13, kick each other’s balls, or even fight using keyboards, like we always do on platform like Quora, Facebook, X or whatever.
The point is, it’s not specifically mentioned in the verse. Notice how there’s no “KILL” in it? Just noticed that now? You’re welcome!
Islam values life more than anything else, after the unconditional and unwavering faith towards Allah. Well, you might say “that’s the whole point! Because you believe in Allah, you’ve become murderous rapist barbarians!”.
Please be patient, and read further.
Even though the verse is contextual, but now we understand that if someone wants to take this verse literally, it still doesn’t necessarily mean they have to kill you. We can engage in intellectual debate using arguments and reasoning before reaching a conclusion. This is similar to the reasoning Christian apologists use to justify the verse where Jesus said, “I come not to bring peace, but a sword.” According to them, it is predominantly understood metaphorically, emphasizing the potential divisions and challenges inherent in committing to the Christian faith. If “sword” can be interpreted in such a way, why not “fight”?
The prove of my point can be seen here in Surah Ali ‘Imran where Allah mention that the Muslim only duty is to spread the message. If the disbeliever didn’t do anything, just leave them alone.
So if they argue with you, say, “I have submitted myself to Allah [in Islam], and [so have] those who follow me.” And say to those who were given the Scripture and [to] the unlearned, “Have you submitted yourselves?” And if they submit [in Islam], they are rightly guided; but if they turn away – then upon you is only the [duty of] notification. And Allah is Seeing of [His] servants.
Surah Ali ‘Imran 3:20
Some translation like Pickthall and Maududi translate “then upon you is only the [duty of] notification.” as to convey or deliver the message.
Fine… But the Wars Muslims Fought Were Physical!
Were the Crusades just wars of words? Was the Spanish Inquisition merely a debate between Muhammad Hijab and David Wood at Speaker’s Corner? I could also say, “I come not to bring peace, but a sword,” means physically cutting people with a sword. Colonist’s expansion in the Archipelagos and eventually into my land, Terra de Tana Malaio, was carried out with swords and deception. It’s written in my history textbooks at school. When Islam came to these lands through trade,[1][2] the colonist came and bulldozed everything[3]. They then propagate their faith within the land they conquered. I don’t have to mention their religion, or should I?
The “fight” that has been sanctioned against the people of the scriptures—Jews and Christians—is entirely conditional. None of the instructions in the Quran to fight or kill disbelievers are prescribed without specific conditions. None of them were killed simply for rejecting Allah and Prophet Muhammad (Peace Upon Him).
Even his uncle, Abu Talib, remained a polytheist on his deathbed due to old age,[10] despite he has been with Rasulullah for most of the time. Another of his uncles, Abu Lahab, despite his constant rejection and open hostility toward the Prophet (ﷺ) and Muslims, has never physically harmed the lives of Muslims, so an instruction to kill him was never revealed. However, due to his hostility in other ways, such as supporting the Quraysh with his wealth and paying people on his behalf to fight Rasulullah in the Battle of Badr, Allah Himself dealt with Abu Lahab by sending a skin disease on him, which eventually led to his disgraceful death.[11]
The verse we are discussing states to fight those who do not believe in Allah AND “who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful.” We will discuss what “who do not consider unlawful” and “who do not adopt the religion of truth” means further in another section of this article.
Before that, I would like to present additional examples where the instruction to fight was a result of specific conditions:
1. Surah Al-Baqarah (2:190)
“Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors.”
Context and Conditions:
- Goal of Peace: The subsequent verses, 193 emphasize stopping hostilities if the enemy ceases aggression-
“Fight them until there is no [more] fitnah and [until] religion [i.e., worship] is [acknowledged to be] for Allah. But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression [i.e., assault] except against the oppressors.“ - No Transgression: Muslims are explicitly forbidden from overstepping bounds, such as targeting civilians or engaging in excessive violence. [8][9]
- Defense Only: Fighting is allowed only against those who initiate hostilities against Muslims. The statement “those who fight you” is the condition that must be met to engage in fighting where the disbelievers initiate the fight and oppressed the Muslim. The same is true for the rest of these examples below.
2. Surah Al-Hajj (22:39-40)
“Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory. [They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right—only because they say, ‘Our Lord is Allah.’”
Context and Conditions:
- Permission for the Oppressed: This is the first verse granting Muslims permission to fight. It is explicitly for those being oppressed and chased out from their home.
3. Surah At-Tawbah (9:13-14)
“Will you not fight a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack] upon you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allah has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.”
Context and Conditions:
- Violation of Treaties: Fighting is sanctioned against those who have broken treaties and actively sought to harm the Muslim community. They even initiated the attack.
- Self-Defense: These verses emphasize fighting as a response to aggression and treachery.
So, there is always a condition that requires action to resolve it. During the initial advent of Islam, resistance toward the faith often took the form of brutality like torturing and killing, necessitating another level of action—in this case, fighting. Yes, some verses mention killing, but that is because the enemy initiated aggression first.
However, if the enemy want peace, we ought to give it.
“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
Surah Anfal (8:61)
Not only that, while Surah Al-Baqarah limits Muslims by commanding them not to transgress, Surah At-Tawbah (9:29), which we are discussing now, sets a limit to the fight when the Christians and Jews pay jizya.
“[fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled. “
Jizya
What’s the problem? Why complain about paying jizya when you have no issue paying taxes to the government of the land you’re living in now? Did you know that jizya actually benefits you more than the Muslim in certain circumstances?
The root verb of jizya is j-z-y, which means ‘to reward somebody for something’, ‘to pay what is due in return for something‘.[4] Jizya is a tax imposed on non-Muslim inhabitants in an Islamic state. The tax is usually levied on adult male non-Muslims who can work, and earn a living.[5] The payers will get—protection, exemption from military service, for the permission to practice a non-Muslim faith with some communal autonomy in a Muslim state, and as material proof of the non-Muslims’ allegiance to the Muslim state and its laws,[4] and comparatively lower rates than zakat.[6]
I’m not an expert, or mufti or ustadz and this is an extensive topic which requires deep understanding and thorough resources to truly convey how it should be implemented and its benefits to society. Perhaps I will make another article about this after I have done my research, but to dismiss Islam simply because of jizya and the notion that it subjugates the People of the Book while ignoring the benefits these people enjoy is unjust and oversimplified. It’s like a desperate argument to win the debate.
Now let’s get back to the topic. Please bear with me because we are going to delve into the hadith. Buckle up!
“Who Do Not Consider Unlawful What Allah and His Messenger Have Made Unlawful and Who Do Not Adopt the Religion of Truth From Those Who Were Given the Scripture”
Simply put, this is a description of a specific group of people in a certain context. This verse is contextual, which is why you haven’t been killed by your Muslim friends, neighbors, or anyone else. This is also the reason why, those bright people that I mentioned above still steadfast in this religion despite they could see this verse.
The statement from the verse doesn’t refer to all Christians or Jews at all times. So, who are these people, what’s the story?
Reverend E. M. Wherry, the stone head critic of Islam stated;
Vers. 29-128 refer to the events connected with the expedition to Tabuq, which occurred in Rajab of A.H. 9.
They were not, however, all enunciated at one time, but partly before the expedition, partly on the march, and partly after the return. Vers. 29-35 may be referred to the time of arrival at Tabuq, when the Christian prince, John of Aylah, tendered his submission to Muhammad, paying tribute (Jazya).[12]
Viewed within its historical context, this verse was revealed as a command to Prophet Muhammad Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam to respond to the Byzantine (Roman) Empire, which had prepared its forces to attack the Muslim community. Sahih Muslim, mentions:
He (Hadrat ‘Umar further) said: I had a companion from the Ansar and, we used to remain in the company of the Messenger turn by turn. He remained there for a day while I remained there on the other day, and he brought me the news about the revelation and other (matter), and I brought him (the news) like this. And we discussed that the Ghassanids were shoeing the horses in order to attack us. Id y companion once attended (the Apostle). And then came to me at night and knocked at my door and called me, and I came out to him, and he said: A matter of great importance has happened. I said: What is that? Have the Ghassanids come? He said: No, but even more serious and more significant than that: the Prophet has divorced his wives. [13]
If you are zealous enough to find more about the Battle Of Tabuk, Ghassanids, this hadith and anything related to it, you may look it up for yourself. This article is just to prove that Surah At-Tawbah verse 29 is contextual. Even if anyone takes it literally, they are bound by the etiquette and principles laid out by Allah and conveyed by His Messenger.
Etiquette & Principles of War in Islam
Islam is not a religion of pacifism. We fight back. For 15 years, Muslims at the time of the Prophet were harassed, physically abused, tortured, and subjected to economic boycotts. Multiple murders occurred during the Makkan period, but Islam emphasized patience until the community was strong enough to defend itself. Surah Al-Hajj (22:39-40) marked a turning point when self-defense was permitted due to continued aggression.
However, the statement ‘but do not transgress’ in Surah 2:190, as presented above, is essentially an instruction to the Muslim army to remain humane toward the enemy, despite the brutality they had endured at the hands of the Quraysh prior to the revelation of this verse. Below is an outline of the principles and code of conduct in conflicts and war.
- Defense, Not Aggression: Fighting is only permitted in defense or against clear oppression and treachery. Evidence have been presented above, laid in the verses quoted.
- Humanitarian Ethics: Civilians, non-combatants, women, children, and even trees and crops are to be protected.[8][9]
- Peace as the Goal: Whenever the enemy ceases hostility or offers peace, Muslims must reciprocate.
– Surah Al-Baqarah (2:192)
“But if they cease, then there is to be no aggression except against the oppressors.”
– Surah Al-Anfal (8:61)
“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
– Surah At-Tawbah (9:6)
“And if any one of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allāh [i.e., the Qur’ān]. Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.”
Conclusion
It is enough to say that Surah At-Tawbah Verse 29 is contextual. If you have a healthy intellect and are able to think and reason, you should ask yourself why this religion continues to expand despite the so-called terrors, murders, and crimes allegedly committed in the name of Islam.
Doesn’t make any sense, right? Are all those people blind? The answer is NO!
They are among the most intelligent people because they use their reason and intellect, searching for answers and truths. The truth I am talking about is not just empty words, like when the missionaries says, “The word of God is the truth,” without presenting any evidence. NO! It’s much more than that. We have evidence.
Here is a love letter from God to the Christians:
“You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah (polytheist); and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers [to be] those who say, ‘We are Christians.’ That is because among them are priests and monks, and because they are not arrogant.”
Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:82)
– Addressing the Ignorant Hypocrites –
*This was added in response to an insult made by an idiot whom I couldn’t be bothered to reply to, as he blatantly ignored the point I made earlier that had already refuted his claims — showing just how much of a fool and “illiterate” he is, unwilling to even learn the truth, despite all the evidences have been presented*
“If anyone disagrees with anything, please express it in a civilized manner. That’s all I ask.”
Aqlami Islam
CHRISTIANITY & BIBLICAL SCRIPTURE
Religious violence is not the monopoly of any one faith. Those who single out Muslims as warmongers while turning a blind eye to centuries of brutality committed in the name of other religions are like stabbing in the dark only to end up cutting themselves. They are so desperate to win that they completely ignore the point I made earlier that Islamic teachings place greater value on human life and impose strict limitations on Muslim armies.
If brutality had a religion, Christianity’s past would make a strong contender. The Spanish Inquisition stands as one of its blood-soaked emblems, an institution created to police belief, lasting for centuries, and enforcing faith through torture, forced confessions, and executions. This was no unfortunate anomaly in Christian history, but a deliberate and systematic policy of persecution. So this is how a religion makes itself the largest in the world which is not through truth, but through terror. [14]
They might say it’s because those people “rejected the truth,” “disobeyed God’s command,” or “needed to be purified from sin.” But as a non-Christian, I see this not as divine justice, but as pure barbarism.
No context, commentaries whatsoever can justify this mind blowing brutality which was done in the name of the Christ under lunatic papal’ s order.
This is only one example of the torturing device during the Inquisition. There are many more.
Another examples is the so-called Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) in southern France: launched by the papacy (Catholic Church) under Pope Innocent III against the Cathars (also called the “Albigensians”) who were deemed heretics. The aim was not simply to convert them but to eradicate them. One famous anecdote from the siege of Béziers quotes a papal legate saying “Kill them all. God will know His own.” While numbers are disputed, some accounts place the death toll at tens of thousands. [15]
The disturbing truth is that much of this theology of conquest echoed verses in the Bible itself — passages that modern readers often ignore when attacking Islam for its wartime verses. For example, in 1 Samuel 15:3, God commands Saul to “utterly destroy all that [the Amalekites] have.
Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant.”
In Hosea 13:16, divine punishment is described in chilling terms:
“Their infants shall be dashed to pieces, and their pregnant women ripped open.”
Apparently that is what happening in Gaza where they take the verses literally on another level.
The language of total annihilation, vengeance, and dehumanization shaped not only ancient Israelite warfare but also later interpretations that sanctified European conquest and colonialism. In a tragic irony, scenes reminiscent of those verses, with pregnant women killed and children buried under rubble, are unfolding before our eyes today in Gaza, though few dare to make the comparison.
Let’s not forget about the other groups of people as well. It wouldn’t be right to just abandon them, would it?
PAGANS
There were the idol worshipers. This group of people were the first to be encountered when Rasulullah began his da’wah. For almost 15 years, he and his followers were persecuted and killed by the Quraysh people.
Now let’s talk about Hinduism. If we ask them, they will tell us that Hinduism is a religion of peace and humanity, that they have never forced anyone to convert. But can we really be so sure?
atheism
Atheists often have the audacity to claim that religion is the root of the world’s problems, pointing to centuries of wars fought in the name of God to prove their point. But such claims usually come from those who never bother to read, understand, or seek the truth behind these conflicts, or the reality of their ideology.
While religious conflicts like the Crusades or the Thirty Years’ War certainly caused devastation, the 20th century’s worst atrocities, Stalin’s purges, Mao’s Great Leap Forward, Pol Pot’s Cambodia, were carried out by explicitly atheist regimes, killing tens of millions. To single out religion as “uniquely violent” is historically inconsistent, since both belief and unbelief have been weaponized when tied to authoritarian power. As historian Tim O’Neill notes, the cliché that “more people have died in wars over religion than any other cause” collapses under scrutiny, because most wars are driven by politics, empire, and resources rather than theology.
Related Articles:
Citations
- UNESCO. (n.d.). Did you know? The spread of Islam in Southeast Asia through trade routes. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/content/did-you-know-spread-islam-southeast-asia-through-trade-routes
- Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Islam in Southeast Asia. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Southeast_Asia#:~:text=The%20spread%20of%20Islam%20generally,Dewa%20Shah%20into%20a%20Muslim
- Raben, R. (2012). On genocide and mass violence in colonial Indonesia. Journal of Genocide Research, 14(3-4), 485–502. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://www.academia.edu/2003934/_On_genocide_and_mass_violence_in_colonial_Indonesia_Journal_of_Genocide_Research_14_3_4_2012_485_502?utm_source=chatgpt.com
- Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Jizya. Wikipedia. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jizya
- Alawiye, H. O. (2023). Concept of Jizyah under Islamic Law and The Historical Factors Contributing to its Decline. Journal of Islamic Studies. Retrieved from https://journalshariah.my/index.php/jis/article/view/26/38
- Nafis Irkhami. (2019). Zakat, Kharāj, ’Ushr, and Jizya as the Instruments of Islamic Public Finance: A Contemporary Study. SHARE: Jurnal Ekonomi dan Keuangan Islam, Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 90-113. DOI: 10.22373/share.v8i1.3804.
- SeekersGuidance. (n.d.). What were the criteria for paying jizya? IslamQA. Retrieved from https://islamqa.org/shafii/seekersguidance-shafii/241482/
- Elias, A. A. (2014, April 20). Umar ibn al-Khattab forbade killing women, children, and civilians in war. Daily Hadith Online. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2014/04/20/umar-no-killing-civilians/
- Darussalam. Sunan Ibn Majah 2682 – The prohibition of killing women and children in war. The Book of Jihad. Sunnah.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://sunnah.com/urn/509710
- Darussalam. (n.d.). Sahih al-Bukhari 1360 – Funerals (Al-Janaa’iz) Abu Talib’s Deathbed. Sunnah.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://sunnah.com/bukhari%3A1360
- Federal Territories Mufti Office. (n.d.). Al-Kafi #992: Abu Lahab and the story of his death. MuftiWP. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://muftiwp.gov.my/en/artikel/al-kafi-li-al-fatawi/2934-al-kafi-992-abu-lahab-and-the-story-of-his-death
- A comprehensive commentary on the Quran – by Reverend E. M. Wherry, volume 2 page 274
- Darussalam. (n.d.). Sahih Muslim 1479e – The Book of Divorce (Kitab Al-Talaq). Sunnah.com. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://sunnah.com/muslim%3A1479e
- Ryan, E. A. (2025, September 6). Spanish Inquisition. In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spanish-Inquisition
- Cline, A. (2017, August 28). Christianity and violence: The Crusades. Conversations on Vietnam Development. Retrieved from https://cvdvn.net/2017/08/28/christianity-and-violence-the-crusades/
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