"Fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for God loves

not
transgressors. And kill them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have
turned you out; for persecution and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at
the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there;but if they fight you, kill them. Such is the
reward of those who reject faith. But if they cease, God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And fight
them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God;
but if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. The
prohibited month, for the prohibited month, and so for all things prohibited, there is the law of
equality. If then any one transgresses the prohibition against you, transgress ye likewise against
him. But fear (the punishment of) God, and know thatGod is with those who restrain
themselves." [Quran 2:190-194]
The message has been often repeated in the above verses to makeit clear. This verse was a
revelation during the time when Muslims of Medina were being attacked by pagans of Makkah.
An example would be when the Makkans conducted the public crucifixion of the companion of
the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), Khubaib bin Adi. These activities are coined as
the 'terrorist activities' in the contemporary jargon.
So what does this verse say in this context?
"Fight in the cause of God those who fight you", "unless they (first) fight you there" - this verse is
applicable to those who initiate the attack against Muslims. " but do not transgress limits; for
God loves not transgressors." "persecution and oppression are worse than slaughter" - with
clearly outlining the limits of Muslims and also clearly mentions that this is a self defense for
oppression and turbulence from the oppressors, not a mere catch and kill, due to religious
dichotomy; as often interpreted by anti-Islamists.
And even after they attack, the verse makes it clear: "But if they cease, God is Oft-Forgiving,
Most Merciful." And it also makes clear the purpose for what Muslims fight: "fight them on until
there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in God". It is the duty of
Muslims to defend humanity from oppression and persecution and to establish justice. Muslims
believe it is our duty to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, to establish peace and justice in the
land.
The Quran clearly prohibits aggression. The verses explain that fighting is only for selfdefence. Thus, a Muslim cannot commit aggression and kill innocent men, women, children, the
sick, the elderly, monks, priests, or those who do not wish to fight. A Muslim is also mandated
not to destroy plant life of livestock. ( Dr. Maher Hathout, Jihad vs. Terrorism; US Multimedia
Vera International, 2002, p.49, emphasis added)
Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes about verse 2:190:
War is only permissible in self-defence, and under well-defined limits. When undertaken, it must
be pushed with vigour, but not relentlessly, but only to restore peace and freedom for the
worship of God. In any case strict limits must not be transgressed: women, children, old and
infirm men should not be molested, nor trees and crops cut down, nor peace withheld when the
enemy comes to terms. (Yusuf Ali, The Holy Quran, Text, Translation and Commentary )