<88. Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites? Allah has cast them back because of what they have earned. Do you want to guide him whom Allah has made to go astray? And he whom Allah has made to go astray, you will never find for him a way.>
<89. They wish that you reject faith, as they have rejected, and thus that you all become equal (like one another). So take not Awliya' from them, till they emigrate in the way of Allah. But if they turn back, take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Awliya' nor helpers from them.>
<90. Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace), or those who approach you with their breasts restraining from fighting you as well as fighting their own people. Had Allah willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you. So, if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace, then Allah has made no way for you against them.>
<91. You will find others that wish to have security from you and security from their people. Every time they are sent back to Fitnah, they yield thereto. If they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace, nor restrain their hands, take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you Thaqiftumuhum. In their case, We have provided you with a clear warrant against them.>

Allah criticizes the believers for disagreeing over the hypocrites. There are conflicting opinions over the reason behind revealing this Ayah.
Imam Ahmad recorded that Zayd bin Thabit said that Messenger of Allah marched towards Uhud. However, some people who accompanied him went back to Al-Madinah, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah divided into two groups concerning them, one saying they should be killed and the other objecting. Allah sent down,
<Then what is the matter with you that you are divided into two parties about the hypocrites?>
The Messenger of Allah said,
«She (Al-Madinah) is Taybah, and she expels filth, just as the billow expels rust from iron.» The Two Sahihs also recorded this Hadith.
Al-‘Awfi reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said that the Ayah was revealed about some people in Makkah who said they embraced Islam, yet they gave their support to the idolators. One time, theses people went out of Makkah to fulfill some needs and said to each other, “If we meet the Companions of Muhammad, there will be no harm for us from their side.” When the believers got news that these people went out of Makkah, some of them said, “Let us march to these cowards and kill them, because they support your enemy against you.” However, another group from the believers said, “Glory be to Allah! Do you kill a people who say as you have said, just because they did not perform Hijrah or leave their land? Is it allowed to shed their blood and confiscate their money in this case?” So they divided to two groups, while the Messenger was with them, and did not prohibit either group from
<So take not Awliya' from them, till they emigrate in the way of Allah. But if they turn back,>
if they abandon Hijrah, as Al-‘Awfi reported from Ibn ‘Abbas. As-Suddi said that this part of the Ayah means, “If they make their disbelief public.”

Combatants and Noncombatants

Allah excluded some people;
<Except those who join a group, between you and whom there is a treaty (of peace),>
meaning, except those who join and take refuge with a people with whom you have a pact of peace, or people of Dhimmah, then treat them as you treat the people with whom you have peace. This is the saying of As-Suddi, Ibn Zayd and Ibn Jarir.
In his Sahih, Al-Bukhari recorded the story of the treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah, where it was mentioned that whoever liked to have peace with Quraysh and conduct a pact with them, then they were allowed. Those who liked to have peace with Muhammad and his Companions and enter a pact with them were allowed. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas said that this Ayah was later abrogated by Allah’s statement,
<Then when the Sacred Months have passed, kill the idolators wherever you find them>
Allah said,
<or those who approach you with their breasts restraining> referring to another type of people covered by the exclusion from fighting. They are those who approach the Muslims with hesitation in their hearts because of their aversion to fighting the Muslims. They do not have the heart to fight with the Muslims against their own people. Therefore, they are neither with nor against Muslims.
<Had Allah willed, indeed He would have given them power over you, and they would have fought you.>
meaning, it is from Allah’s mercy that He has stopped them from fighting you.
<So, if they withdraw from you, and fight not against you, and offer you peace,>
meaning, they revert to peace.
<then Allah has opened no way for you against them>, you do not have the right to kill them, as long as they take this position.
This was the position of Banu Hashim (the tribe of the Prophet), such as Al-‘Abbas, who accompanied the idolaters in the battle of Badr, for they joined the battle with great hesitation. This is why the Prophet commanded that Al-‘Abbas not be killed, but only captured. Allah’s statement,
<You will find others that wish to have security from you and security from their people.>
refers to a type of people who on the surface appear to be like the type we just mentioned. However, the intention of each type is different, for the latter are hypocrites. They pretend to be Muslims with the Prophet and his Companions, so that they could attain safety with the Muslims for their blood, property and families. However, they support the idolaters in secret and worship what they worship, so that they are at peace with them also. These people have secretly sided with the idolaters, just as Allah described them,
<But when they are alone with their Shayatin, they say: "Truly, we are with you.">.
In this Ayah, Allah said,
<Every time they are sent back to Fitnah, they yield thereto.>
meaning, they dwell in Fitnah. As-Suddi said that the Fitnah mentioned here refers to Shirk. Ibn Jarir recorded that Mujahid said that the Ayah was revealed about a group from Makkah who used to go to the Prophet [in Al-Madinah] pretending to be Muslims. However, when they went back to Quraysh, they reverted to worshipping idols. They wanted to be at peace with both sides. Allah commanded they should be fought against, unless they withdraw from combat and resort to peace. This is why Allah said,
<If they withdraw not from you, nor offer you peace>
meaning, revert to peaceful and complacent behavior,
<nor restrain their hands> refrain from fighting you,
<take (hold of) them>, capture them,
<and kill them wherever you Thaqiftumuhum.>,
wherever you find them,
<In their case, We have provided you with a clear warrant against them>, meaning an unequivocal and plain warrant.