The hadith states that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: I have been commanded (by Allah) to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity except Allah and that Muhammad ﷺ is the true Messenger of Allah, and they establish prayer and give zakat. When they do this, they will have secured their lives and wealth from me.
Reference: (Sahih Bukhari:25, Sahih Muslim:127)
The content of this hadith contradicts the Quran because it commands enforcing religion on people by force, whereas Allah Almighty says in the Quran:
لَا إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَدْ تَبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ۔۔۔
Reference: (Surah Al-Baqarah:256)
There is no compulsion in religion; surely the right way has become distinct from error. So if there is no compulsion in religion, how can you ﷺ say this? Therefore, this cannot be your statement!
① First Point
The real reason for this doubt is the misunderstanding of the hadith. In this hadith, there are two words whose meanings have been misunderstood: one word is "أقاتل" and the other word is "الناس". It is a misconception to think that "أقاتل" simply means to kill, because in the Arabic language this form is used when fighting is on both sides; a one-sided attack is called "قتل" (killing), not "قتال" (fighting). As for the word "الناس", it refers to specific people who, in the terminology of Shariah, are called "muharibeen" (those who fight against Muslims), not all humans.
The evidence for this is that in the Holy Quran the word "الناس" has also been applied to a few people. Allah Almighty says:
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
Reference: (Aal Imran:173)
Translation: Those to whom people said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs."
In the mentioned verse, the earlier word "الناس" refers to some polytheists, not all people. See:
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari (5/365), Tafsir al-Baghawi (2/138)
② Second Point
This doubt is completely resolved when we study the noble biography of the Prophet of Mercy ﷺ, his practical life, and the battles. Regarding warfare, we find numerous instructions and teachings of the Prophet ﷺ, which, upon a cursory glance, clarify the true picture of whether indeed all disbelievers were killed or not.
Consider the hadith:
Buraidah bin Husaib رضي الله عنه says that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ appointed someone as a commander over a large army or a small detachment, he would specifically advise him to fear Allah regarding his own self and to do good for all the Muslims who were with him. Then he would say: "In the name of Allah, fight in the way of Allah. Fight those who disbelieve in Allah. Do not betray, do not break promises, do not mutilate, and do not kill any child. When you confront your enemy among the polytheists, call them to three things; whichever they accept, accept it from them and desist from attacking them. Invite them to Islam; if they accept it, accept it from them and desist from fighting. Then invite them to migrate to the land of the Muhajireen and inform them that if they do so, they will have the same rights as the Muhajireen and the same responsibilities as the Muhajireen. If they refuse to migrate, inform them that then they will be like the Bedouin Muslims; the same ruling of Allah will apply to them as applies to the believers, and they will have no share in the spoils or fay except if they join the Muslims in jihad. If they refuse, then demand jizyah from them; if they accept, accept it from them and desist. If they refuse, then seek help from Allah and fight them..."
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:4522)
.③ Third Point
As far as the claim that this hadith contradicts or conflicts with the Quran is concerned, there are verses in the Quran itself where the Prophet ﷺ has been given similar or even stricter commands. So what will be said about those verses? Allah Almighty says:
فَإِذَا انسَلَخَ الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Reference: (At-Tawbah:5)
Translation: Then when the sacred months have passed, kill the polytheists wherever you find them, capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, then leave their way free. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
إِذْ يُوحِي رَبُّكَ إِلَى الْمَلَائِكَةِ أَنِّي مَعَكُمْ فَثَبِّتُوا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ۚ سَأُلْقِي فِي قُلُوبِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا الرُّعْبَ فَاضْرِبُوا فَوْقَ الْأَعْنَاقِ وَاضْرِبُوا مِنْهُمْ كُلَّ بَنَانٍ
Reference: (Al-Anfal:12)
Translation: Remember when your Lord inspired the angels, "I am with you, so strengthen those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. So strike [them] upon the necks and strike from them every fingertip."
④ Fourth Point
In Madinah Tayyibah itself, three major Jewish tribes lived. They even broke their agreements and met their end. If the matter were as mentioned in the doubt, then how did those Jewish tribes live in an atmosphere of peace and security for so long, and why were they not killed even without embracing Islam?!
⑤ Fifth Point
How is it possible to kill every disbeliever when Islam has permitted us to marry chaste women from the People of the Book? Similarly, it has allowed maintaining kinship ties with peaceful disbelievers, making peace with them, and entering into agreements with them.
⑥ Sixth Point
The correct understanding of the hadith is also supported by the fact that in Islam, if a hypocrite outwardly shows faith and hides disbelief, it is still not permissible to kill him, even though he is more severe and dangerous in disbelief than a common disbeliever.
⑦ Seventh Point
Some scholars say that the meaning of the hadith is that we should continue fighting until the word of Allah Almighty is raised all over the earth and the religion of Allah is made manifest, and those who do not accept Islam come under the just system of Islam, even if they remain steadfast in their own religion.
