Allah commanded His Messenger to strive hard against the disbelievers and the
hypocrites and to be harsh against them. Allah also commanded him to be merciful
with the believers who followed him, informing him that the destination of the
disbelievers and hypocrites is the Fire in the Hereafter. Ibn Mas`ud commented
on Allah's statement,
[جَـهِدِ الْكُفَّـرَ
وَالْمُنَـفِقِينَ]
(Strive hard against the disbelievers and the hypocrites) "With the hand, or
at least have a stern face with them.'' Ibn `Abbas said, "Allah commanded the
Prophet to fight the disbelievers with the sword, to strive against the
hypocrites with the tongue and annulled lenient treatment of them.'' Ad-Dahhak
commented, "Perform Jihad against the disbelievers with the sword and be harsh
with the hypocrites with words, and this is the Jihad performed against them.''
Similar was said by Muqatil and Ar-Rabi`. Al-Hasan and Qatadah said, "Striving
against them includes establishing the (Islamic Penal) Law of equality against
them.'' In combining these statements, we could say that Allah causes punishment
of the disbelievers and hypocrites with all of these methods in various
conditions and situations, and Allah knows best.
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