The Quran Says That Muslims Should Kill The Non-Believers Wherever They Find Them. Does This Mean That Islam Promotes Violence, Bloodshed And Brutality?

There are a few verses in the Holy Quran that are quite often misquoted or quoted out of context to perpetuate the myth that Islam promotes violence and exhorts its followers to kill those who are outside the fold of Islam. The words “kill the polytheists wherever you find them” are often quoted to portray that Islam promotes violence, bloodshed and brutality.

In order to understand the context, it is necessary to read it from the beginning of the chapter. It discloses that there was a peace treaty between the Muslims and the pagans of Makkah. The pagans violated this treaty, so a period of four months was given to them to make amends; otherwise war would be declared against them. The complete verse actually says:

فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٥﴾

Then when the sacred months have passed, slay the polytheists wherever you find them, and catch them and make them captive, and wait in ambush for them at every place; then if they repent and keep the prayer established and pay the charity, leave their way free; indeed Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ) is Oft Forgiving, Most merciful. [Taubah 9:5]

This verse is a command to the Muslims who had entered into an agreement with the pagans, who soon violated the agreement, to fight and kill those who betrayed them wherever they found them. It would seem that any open-minded person would consider the historical context of this verse and agree that is cannot be used as ‘evidence’ that Islam promotes violence, brutality and bloodshed, or that it encourages its followers to kill anyone outside the fold of Islam.

The very next verse gives the answer to the allegation that Islam promotes violence, brutality and bloodshed. It says:

وَإِنْ أَحَدٌ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٦﴾

And O dear Prophet (Muhammad صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہِ وَسَلَّم), if a polytheist seeks your protection, give him protection so that he may hear the Word of Allah (عَزَّوَجَلَّ), and then transport him to his place of safety. [Taubah 9:6]

The Holy Quran not only stipulates that a pagan seeking asylum during the battle should be granted refuge, but also that he be escorted to safety. In the present age, which military commander would direct his soldiers not just to spare an enemy during battle, but to escort him to a place of safety? Yet, that is exactly what Almighty Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ instruct in the majestic Quran.