فَإِذَا

لَقِيتُمُ

ٱلَّذِينَ

كَفَرُواْ

فَضَرۡبَ

ٱلرِّقَابِ

حَتَّىٰٓ

إِذَآ

أَثۡخَنتُمُوهُمۡ

فَشُدُّواْ

ٱلۡوَثَاقَ

فَإِمَّا

مَنَّۢا

بَعۡدُ

وَإِمَّا

فِدَآءً

حَتَّىٰ

تَضَعَ

ٱلۡحَرۡبُ

أَوۡزَارَهَاۚ

ذَٰلِكَۖ

وَلَوۡ

يَشَآءُ

ٱللَّهُ

لَٱنتَصَرَ

مِنۡهُمۡ

وَلَٰكِن

لِّيَبۡلُوَاْ

بَعۡضَكُم

بِبَعۡضٖۗ

وَٱلَّذِينَ

قُتِلُواْ

فِي

سَبِيلِ

ٱللَّهِ

فَلَن

يُضِلَّ

أَعۡمَٰلَهُمۡ

٤

  So, when you meet (in fight - Jihâd in Allâh’s Cause) those who disbelieve, smite (their) necks till when you have killed and wounded many of them, then bind a bond firmly (on them, i.e. take them as captives). Thereafter (is the time) either for generosity (i.e. free them without ransom), or ransom (according to what benefits Islâm), until the war lays down its burden. Thus [you are ordered by Allâh to continue in carrying out Jihâd against the disbelievers till they embrace Islâm and are saved from the punishment in the Hell-fire or at least come under your protection], but if it had been Allâh’s Will, He Himself could certainly have punished them (without you). But (He lets you fight) in order to test some of you with others. But those who are killed in the Way of Allâh, He will never let their deeds be lost.¹