At-Tawba (The Repentance)

6. “And if any of the polytheists seeks protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the Word of Allah; then do convey him to his place of security; that is because they are a people who do not know.”

This verse means that if after passing four months of respite one of the idolaters, against whom you were commanded to fight, comes to you and asks for security to hearken to your invitation and to the reasoning of the Qur’ān, do respite him and explain your aim to him. Then do respite him to listen to the Word of Allah and to contemplate over it. The verse says:

“And if any of the polytheists seeks protection from you, grant him protection till he hears the Word of Allah...” The manner in which the Qur’ān has appointed only the Word of Allah and has said: “…till he hears the word of Allah...” is for the reason that the most important proofs lie in the very Word of Allah.

Then the verse continues saying:

“…then do convey him to his place of security...”

This part of the verse means that if the one embraced Islam, he would obtain the goodness and prosperity of two worlds; and if the one did not embrace Islam, you should not kill him in order to avoid deceiving him, but you should send him to his own home where he has security of life and wealth.

The concluding phrase of the holy verse is as follows:

“…that is because they are a people who do not know.”

This phrase means that this respite is for the sake that such people are some ones who do not know the Faith and the reasons of Islam. Then, you should respite them so that they hear, contemplate well and become cognizant.