Mujahid, ‘Amr bin Shu'ayb, Muhammad bin Ishaq, Qatadah, As-Suddi and ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that the four months mentioned in this Ayah are the four-month grace period mentioned in the earlier Ayah
^So travel freely for four months throughout the land.)
Allah said next,
4So when the Sacred Months have passed...), meaning, TJpon the end of the four months during which We prohibited you from lighting the idolaters, and which is the grace period We gave them, then fight and kill the idolaters wherever you may find them.’ Allah’s statement next,
ithen fight the Mushrikin wherever you find them), means, on the earth in general, except for the Sacred Area, for Allah said,
And fight not with them at Al-Masjid Al-Haram, unless they fight you there. But if they attack you, then fight them.)[2:l91]
Allah said here.
iand capture them), executing some and keeping some prisoners,
iand besiege them, and lie in wait for them in each and every ambush),
do not wait until you find them. Rather, seek and besiege them in their areas and forts, gather intelligence about them in the various roads and fairways so that what is made wide looks ever smaller to them. This way, they will have no choice, but to die or embrace Islam,
4But if they repent and perform the Salah, and give the Zakdh, then leave their way free. Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. }
Abu Bakr As-Siddlq used this and other honorable Ayat as proof for fighting those who refrained from paying the Zakdh. These Ayat allowed fighting people unless, and until, they embrace Islam and implement its rulings and obligations. Allah mentioned the most important aspects of Islam here, including what is less important. Surely, the highest elements of Islam after the Two Testimonials, are the prayer, which is the right of Allah, the Exalted and Ever High, then the Zakdh, which benefits the poor and needy. These are the most honorable acts that creatures perform, and this is why Allah often mentions the prayer and Zakdh together. In the Two Sahihs, it is recorded that Ibn ‘Umar said that the Messenger of Allah said,
“/ have been commanded to fight the people until they testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establish the prayer and pay the Zakdh. »
This honorable Ayah (9:5) was called the Ayah of the Sword, about which Ad-Dahhak bin Muzahim said, “It abrogated every agreement of peace between the Prophet and any idolator, every treaty, and every term.” Al-‘Awfi said that Ibn ‘Abbas commented: “No idolator had any more treaty or promise of safety ever since Surah Bara’ah was revealed. The four months, in addition to, all peace treaties conducted before Bara’ah was revealed and announced had ended by the tenth of the month of Rabi‘ Al-Akhir.”