Apostate prophet deepens the search; a closer look at the sura tawba?

In answer to the video "The Most Violent Quran Verse (Sword Verse)"

Sura tawba was loudly announced by Ali on the day of sacrifice/idh al adha and for 3 consecutive days. It is to be kept in mind that even at this advanced stage of the prophetic mission, and when Mecca had become subdued to Muslim rule, the Muslims were still in inferiority compared to their opponents throughout the peninsula and beyond. The adjacent Roman and Persian empires were now well informed of the growing Muslim movement. The sura itself relates some Muslims' reluctancy to engage in confrontation due to this 9:38.

The first verse 9:1 announces a clearing of guilt or dissociation. That is from where the other name of sura tawba comes from "baraa’a". That baraa'a, or dissociation was between Allah and His messenger on one side and the idolators on the other. But not any idolaters, rather those who had previously made a treaty with the Muslims but violated it as seen just 3 verses later. The treacherous violation of mutual agreements is a serious and grave matter for all peoples and cultures.

In the times the Quran was revealed, the state of lawlesness was such that only tribal alliances could safeguard a people from attacks and if a group couldnt be reliable upon for their word then one shouldnt expect the Muslims to blindly accept putting their lives at risk. The Quran alludes to this perpetually violent environment of the peninsula during the rise of Islam

29:67"Do they not then see that We have made Makkah a sanctuary secure, while men are being snatched away and ravaged from all around them?"

It is thus impossible to read sura tawba without appreciating this historical background and the importance of consolidating the rule of law in war-torn Arabia.  The Muslims had time and time again renewed their agreements after the opposing party had violated it 8:56,61. It was this frequent violation that ultimately led to this forceful and unambiguous declaration of immunity, against those who

9:10"do not pay regard to ties of relationship nor those of covenant in the case of a believer; and these are they who go beyond the limits".

Those further described as

9:12-13"break their oaths after their agreement and (openly) revile your religion"

those to whom "oaths are nothing" and

"broke their oaths and aimed at the expulsion of the Messenger, and they attacked you FIRST".

It was impossible that the Muslims should be bound forever by the terms of those agreements, while their enemies could repudiate them with impunity and aggressiveness

9:7"How can there be an agreement for the idolaters with Allah and with His Messenger; EXCEPT those with whom you made an agreement at the Sacred Mosque?".

Clearly we see, not all groups of idolaters are meant. We know from the earliest sources of Islam that the polytheists of Mecca which the verses point to, were fought against as a result of them breaking a treaty and murdering members of the tribe of Banu Khuza’a, who were allied with the Muslims at the time. The Banu Khuza'a werent even Muslims then. That is how truthful and indiscriminate the prophet and Islam are in applying justice. As a result of Banu Bakr and Quraysh blatant breach of the hudaybiya treaty, the conquest of Mecca took place. The declaration of immunity is therefore not directed at the idolators because of their religion, it does not cover those that honor their treaties

"So as long as they are true to you, be true to them; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty)".

They are those idolaters who had honored their initial agreements with the Muslims and had not backed up anyone against them, the Muslims in turn are told to

9:4"fulfill their agreement to the end of their term; surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty)".

Even the elements within the treaty violators, once besieged, or during the course of warfare give up fighting, leaving their people to seek protection from the Muslims 9:6, they must then be protected and explained what is Islam in order to clear their preconceived notions

"this is because they are a people who do not know".

They are then, in full accordance with the divine principle of no coercion in religion 2:256, escorted to "attain his place of safety". This means any area they designate as their own place of shelter. That person is called musta'min in Islamic legal terminology. He would not be subjected to the jizyah and Islamic laws, being a temporary resident of the Islamic state.This is the justice, pragmatism, magnanimity of Islam, contrary to what the critics want to portray. 

Further, even once that declaration of forceful dissociation was made, the Muslims didnt jump on the occasion and immidiately attacked Mecca, although it was completely within their right. Instead, the noble sura announces that those treaty violators are given respite during the 4 sacred months of pilgrimage.

 That is how spiritually upright, in addition to magnanimous, the sura enjoyns Muslims to be, preserving first and foremost the religious sanctity of the Kaaba and the sacred months. During those 4 inviolable months, the opponents may walk freely in the land of Mecca now under Muslim authority, and reconsider their warmongering. They may also turn to God in repentence which would even be better for their own selves, although not a condition for not being fought. Their perseverence in their desire for war, towards an individual who by now has estabished without doubt his divine authority, will bring about the wrath of God. They were on the brink of suffering the same fate as the rejecters of old in the prophetic history, as the divine retribution manifested either through natural calamities, or the believers themselves as in Moses' and subsequent Israelite prophets' case 6:65. This is what active fighting of a messenger brings upon a people

9:2"you cannot weaken Allah and that Allah will bring disgrace to the unbelievers".

As just alluded to, in Muhammad's case, contrary to all cases of divine punishements, a 4 months ultimatum is given while clearly explaining what the outcome will be when it passes and they have not reformed themselves

9:5"So when the sacred months have passed away, then slay the idolaters wherever you find them, and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush, then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate, leave their way free to them; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful".

This is the mercy of the sura, the fact that although all signs of the truth have been shown through a messenger, and the punishement is about to engulf the remaining disbelievers as it did in the previous battles up to that point, it is as if God, contrary to all previous cases in prophetic history when divine destruction was sent, hit the "pause button" and told the disbelievers to reevaluate their spiritual and antagonistic positions one last time. They have been given time to reflect, not for a day or 2 but 4 full months.

This verse was named by some scholars as the “verse of the sword”, not because it allows Muslims to kill indiscriminately, but because it commands them to defend the community against their enemies. This designation was not used by the Prophet, his companions, or the early Muslims.