At-Tawba (The Repentance)

5. “Then when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the polytheists wherever you find them, and seize them and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush. But if they repent and perform the prayer and pay the poor-rate, (zakāt) then leave their way free to them; verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”

In this verse, the duty of Muslims towards pagans after their respite, which was four months, has been stated, where the most intensive instruction has been issued upon them. It says:

“Then when the sacred months are drawn away, slay the polytheists wherever you find them…”

Next to that, it continues saying:

“…and seize them…” in order to take them captives.

The verse, then adds that they must be put in the circle of besiege. It says:

“…and besiege them…”

After that, the verse extends the statement against them, and says:

“…and lie in wait for them in every ambush…”

This harshness of action is for the sake that Islam’s plan is to root out idolatry from the whole points of the earth, since idolatry is not a creed or religion which could be respected.

But, this harshness and severity is not in the sense that the way of return is shut to them, but whenever and wherever they decide they can change their direction. That is why, immediately next to that, the Qur’ān adds:

“…But if they repent and perform the prayer and pay the poor-rate, (zakāt) then leave their way free to them...”

As for the reason of this opportunity, it is said that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, and He does not repel from Himself the one who returns to Him. The verse ends with the following phrase:

“…verily Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.”