Surah 9. At-Taubah - The Repentance

They respect no tie and no pact regarding a believer. They are the ones given to excesses.

If they mend their ways, (and as law-abiding citizens), help consolidate the Divine System, and the Just Economic Order of Zakaat, then they are your brothers in the System of Life. We explain Our messages for those who wish to learn.

[The usual translation of this verse conveys the meaning that if they start praying five times a day and give 2.5% poor-due per year, then they are your brothers in religion. This interpretation goes directly against the all-encompassing Ordinance of God that there is no compulsion or coercion in Deen Islam 2:256]

If they keep breaking their pledges after their treaty, and assail your System, then fight the chiefs of the disbelievers. They have no respect for their binding oaths. This action will help restrain them from aggression.

Will you not fight a folk who keep breaking their solemn pledges and did everything to drive out the Messenger, and did attack you first? What! Do you fear them? Nay, it is God alone Whom you should more justly fear, if you are truly believers.

Fight them! God will punish them at your hands, and He will humiliate them, and give you victory over them, and He will soothe the bosoms of those who believe. (Soothe from the persecution they have undergone).

He will remove the rage from their hearts. (The invitation is always open.) God accepts corrective action according to His Law. For God is All Knowing, All Wise.

Do you think that you will be left alone without God distinguishing those among you who strive in His Cause, and take none for ally except God, His Messenger, and the believers? And God is Aware of what you do.

Those who associate others with God, (whether idols, religious leaders or temporal leaders), shall not administer God’s Masjids, the Centers of the Divine System - while they witness against their own ’selves’ denial of Truth. All their works are in vain and they will abide in the Fire. [9:107, 30:31, 72:18]

Only those people are fit to administer the Masjids (the Centers of the Divine Order), who have unwavering belief in God and the Last Day. And, they strive to establish the Divine System, and to set up the Just Economic System of Zakaat and fear none but God. They are the only ones who are rightly guided.

Do you consider providing water to pilgrims and caring for the Sacred Masjid (in Makkah) equal to the work of him who has Conviction in God and the Last Day and then strives in the Cause of God? They are not equal in the Sight of God. God does not guide those who displace action with ritual. [Zaalim = One who displaces something from its rightful place]