So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure their bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah - never will He waste their deeds.
Tafseer
{ فإذا لقيتم الذين كفروا فضرب الرقاب } مصدر بدل من اللفظ بفعله، أي فاضربوا رقابهم، أي اقتلوهم وعبَّر بضرب الرقاب لأن الغالب في القتل أن يكون بضرب الرقبة { حتى إذا أثخنتموهم } أكثرتم فيهم القتل { فشدوا } فأمسكوا عنهم وأسروهم وشدوا { الوثاق } ما يوثق به الأسرى { فإما منا بعد } مصدر بدل من اللفظ بفعله أي تمنون عليهم بإطلاقهم من غير شيء { وإما فداءً } تفادونهم بمال أو أسرى مسلمين { حتى تضع الحرب } أي أهلها { أوزارها } أثقالها من السلاح وغيره بأن يسلم الكفار أو يدخلوا في العهد وهذه غاية للقتل والأسر { ذلك } خبر مبتدأ مقدر، أي الأمر فيهم ما ذكر { ولو يشاء الله لانتصر منهم } بغير قتال { ولكن } أمركم به { ليبلو بعضكم ببعض } منهم في القتال فيصير من قتل منكم إلى الجنة ومنهم إلى النار { والذين قتلوا } وفي قراءة قاتلوا، الآية نزلت يوم أحد وقد فشا في المسلمين القتل والجراحات { في سبيل الله فلن يضل } يحبط { أعمالهم } .
{So when you meet those who disbelieve, strike their necks} This is a verbal noun replacing the verb, meaning strike their necks, i.e., kill them. The phrase "strike their necks" is used because killing is usually done by striking the neck. {Until you have thoroughly subdued them} meaning, when you have killed many of them, {then bind them tightly} meaning, hold them back and take them captive, and bind them tightly. {Then either show them favor afterwards} This is a verbal noun replacing the verb, meaning, you show them favor by releasing them without any conditions. {Or accept ransom} meaning, you ransom them with money or Muslim prisoners. {Until the war lays down its burdens} meaning, until the war's people lay down their burdens of weapons and other things, by the disbelievers surrendering or entering into a treaty. This is the end of killing and taking captives. {That} is the predicate of an implied subject, meaning, the matter concerning them is as mentioned. {And if Allah willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them} without fighting. {But} He commanded you to do this {to test some of you by means of others} in fighting, so that those of you who are killed will go to Paradise and those of them to Hell. {And those who were killed} And in the reading of “Fight,” the verse was revealed on the day of Uhud, when killing and wounding had spread among the Muslims. “In the cause of God, He will not let their deeds go astray.”
