In answer to the video "The "No Compulsion in Islam" Lie"
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.
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