Sword Verse

The Sword Verse (Arabic: آية السيف, romanized: ayat as-sayf) is the fifth verse of the ninth surah (at-Tawbah) of the Quran^[1]^[2] (also written as 9:5). It is a Quranic verse widely cited by critics of Islam to suggest the faith promotes violence against pagans (polytheists, mushrikun) by isolating the portion of the verse "kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them".

[9:5] But once the Sacred Months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them on every way. But if they repent, perform prayers, and pay alms-tax, then set them free. Indeed, Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.^{[Quran 9:5]}

The next verse, often excluded from quotes, appears to present a conditional reprieve:

[9:6] And if anyone from the polytheists asks for your protection ˹O Prophet˺, grant it to them so they may hear the Word of Allah, then escort them to a place of safety, for they are a people who have no knowledge.^{[Quran 9:6]}

Quranic exegetes al-Baydawi and al-Alusi explain that it refers to those pagan Arabs who violated their peace treaties by waging war against Muslims.^[3]^[4]

^ The Qur'an. OUP Oxford. 2004-05-13. pp. xxiii. ISBN 9780192805485.
^ Tafsir Ibn Kathir 9:5
^ Anwar al-Tanzeel wa Asrar al-Ta’weel, al-Baydawi, (9:5).
^ Rūḥ al-ma‘ānī fī tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-‘aẓīm wa-al-sab‘ al-mathānī, Mahmud al-Alusi, (9:5).

[1] The Qur'an. OUP Oxford. 2004-05-13. pp. xxiii. ISBN 9780192805485.

[2] Tafsir Ibn Kathir 9:5

[3] Anwar al-Tanzeel wa Asrar al-Ta’weel, al-Baydawi, (9:5).

[4] Rūḥ al-ma‘ānī fī tafsīr al-Qur’ān al-‘aẓīm wa-al-sab‘ al-mathānī, Mahmud al-Alusi, (9:5).

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