And when the end of the verse indicated fighting them if they persisted, the implication was: so advance against them wherever they oppose you, with the boldness of fierce lions, not fearing their numbers or their strength, for indeed Allah will forsake them. He then followed this with His saying, clearly stating the intent: ﴿And fight them﴾ meaning: always ﴿until there is no fitnah﴾ meaning: a cause that necessitates a deviation from the religion altogether ﴿and the religion is﴾.

And when this incident had instilled its awe in the hearts, it became obligatory in every way, so the chests of the disbelievers became constricted and weakened, while the hearts of the believers were expanded and strengthened; this context necessitated emphasis, so He said: ﴿All of it is for Allah﴾ meaning: the Greatest King, purely, not mixed with any type of fear or neglect of it, and the essence of fitnah is the confusing mixture. It is necessary that the cause be great; for a thing cannot be changed from its state except for a great matter; for opposing the familiar is difficult, and among it is the removal of impurities, and likewise the pot's boiling, which causes the broth to stick to its sides. And the 'tanufah' is the desolation; for that is its place, and it necessitates sincerity, from 'fatantu al-dhahaba' - if you melt it, you distinguish its good from its bad. Sometimes the inclination is towards the bad, which is the most common, and sometimes towards the good, and among it is: ﴿And We tried you with a trial﴾ [Ta-Ha: 40].

And when they had two states at the time of confrontation: Islam and acceptance, and disbelief and avoidance and negligence, He clarified the ruling of the two divisions: ﴿So if they cease﴾ meaning: from fighting you by confronting you with Islam, then accept from them and cease from harming them. And do not say: you are seeking refuge with that, not being sincere, holding onto the emphasis of all of it, for upon you is only to repel them from the apparent opposition, and as for the hidden, it is to Allah. ﴿For indeed Allah﴾ meaning: the All-Encompassing in knowledge and power, and He preceded the preposition out of concern for it, to convey that knowledge of it is like being specialized in it, so He said: ﴿With what they do﴾ meaning: even if it is subtle ﴿Indeed, He is All-Seer﴾ and will reward them for it. As for you, you are not aware of both the apparent and the hidden together, so upon you is to accept the apparent, and Allah is All-Seer of what you do - you also - of refraining from them and killing for Allah or for the benefit of oneself. He is All-Seer, and will reward you based on the realities of matters and their inner aspects, even if you show to the people what establishes your excuse, and completes for each of you the reward of what he intended to undertake from fighting them had they not ceased. And if they do not cease but rather advance to fight you, thus was the original, but He, glorified is He, expressed it with His saying: