Thanks a lot for your comments for this important topic. I totally agree on the point that Quran is the Word of God therefore we have to be very careful paying close attention to words used in Quran. The topic of obtaining peace in the World is very relevant, therefore it is imperative that we devote some time to analyze of the verses especially those which are interpreted by War-mongers such as ISIS, in justifying their violent activities.
First, briefly something about the root word system in the Arabic language. Most of the words in Arabic are formed from trilateral root words. The words formed from the same root have some commonality and connections among them. Two words from the same root however, will not convey exactly the same meaning; there would be some slight difference, otherwise, formation of two words conveying exactly the same meaning from the same root word would be redundance.
And thanks for presenting few translations of the Ayat 2:208. If we analyze these translations we see that they, have equated the word As-Silm (السِّلْمِ ) with Al-Islam. We know that as both these words are from the same root word therefore, they will not have the exact same meaning. So when we check the meaning of As-Silm in dictionaries, we find that it conveys the meaning of 'Peace and security'.
Edward William Lane - Arabic Lexicon, the world's leading lexicon on classical Arabic defines the arabic word "silm" as follows
http://www.tyndalearchive.com/tabs/lane/ Lexical Meaning of the Arabic word Silm. A copy of the excerpt from the dictionaries are provided at the end of the article on below link to a post. (
https://topicsfromquran.com/2018/10/13/islam-and-muslim-in-quran/)
In Arabic we would say "al-islamu assilmu or al-islamussilmu which means Islam is Silm which means Islam is obtaining Peace. People who are pro-Islam often say it means "peace". Many who are anti-Islam especially for political reasons - they mostly opt for using the word "submission", in a negative sense.
The word Qital is used as 'fight' in Al-Kitab, the fight can be physical or psychological. The word 'Jihad' means 'to struggle'. An interesting thing to note is that word 'Sword' is not mentioned even once in Al-Kitab.
Let us see some of the Ayas where fighting is mentioned to see if they really mean physical fighting or it means ideological fight:
2:8-12 وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ أَلَا إِنَّهُمْ هُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَٰكِن لَّا يَشْعُرُونَ
Of the people there are some who say. "We believe in Allah and the Last Day;" but they are not (really) with the believers. They deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realize (it) not! In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has increased their disease. And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). When it is said to them. "Do not make mischief/violence on the earth," they say. "Why, we are the reformers!" Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief/violence, but they realize (it) not.
In the above Ayas, Allah exposes those who are actually the violence mongers on Earth. These are those who say that we believe in Allah and the Hereafter, however, they do not themselves know that they are deceiving themselves. The love of violence in their hearts is termed as a disease and Ayas of Allah, increase their disease. When they are told, not to do violence on Earth, they say that we are doing it for a noble cause.
4:60 أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِينَ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّهُمْ آمَنُوا بِمَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَا أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ يُرِيدُونَ أَن يَتَحَاكَمُوا إِلَى الطَّاغُوتِ وَقَدْ أُمِرُوا أَن يَكْفُرُوا بِهِ وَيُرِيدُ الشَّيْطَانُ أَن يُضِلَّهُمْ ضَلَالًا بَعِيدًا
Have you not seen those who assume with pride that they believe in what has been sent down on you and to that before you? Their intention is to resort for judgment to the Taghut (Rebellious/Violent one), though they were ordered to reject him. But Satan's intention is to lead them astray far away (from the right).
The above Ayat states that there are people who assume that they are a believer of what has been revealed on the Messenger, however, they still want their judge to be the Taghoot/violent one, and indeed they are ordered in this Revelation to reject the Taghut/violent one. The word Taghut is from 'Tughian' and in it roots, implies crossing limits, rebellion and violent unjust harshness. So, these people think that they believe in the Messenger and what has been revealed on the Messenger, but actually they end up following the judgment of the violent, rebellious, Taghut.
22:40 الَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا مِن دِيَارِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّا أَن يَقُولُوا رَبُّنَا اللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ اللَّهِ النَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَامِعُ وَبِيَعٌ وَصَلَوَاتٌ وَمَسَاجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا اسْمُ اللَّهِ كَثِيرًا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ اللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَقَوِيٌّ عَزِيزٌ
Those who have been expelled from their circles unjustly,- because of their statement that, "Our Lord is Allah". If it were not that Allah defended one set of people with another, there would surely have been destroyed silos, businesses, prayers, and mosques, in which Allah's name is remembered in abundance. Allah will certainly aid those who aids in His (cause);- for verily Allah is full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to enforce His Will).
Those people who make Allah their Lord (they do not take instructions and orders other than from Allah), they are hated by people bent on violence and war-mongering activities, and they are ousted out of their circles of faith by the disbelievers. The disbelievers label them as an ousted caste. Had Allah not defended the people of the world from these war mongers, violent people, there would have been great destruction in the world. The violent war mongers terrorists would not even leave people going to prayers and mosques, they try to bomb them also.
8:60 وَأَعِدُّوا لَهُم مَّا اسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن قُوَّةٍ وَمِن رِّبَاطِ الْخَيْلِ تُرْهِبُونَ بِهِ عَدُوَّ اللَّهِ وَعَدُوَّكُمْ وَآخَرِينَ مِن دُونِهِمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَهُمُ اللَّهُ يَعْلَمُهُمْ ۚ وَمَا تُنفِقُوا مِن شَيْءٍ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ يُوَفَّ إِلَيْكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تُظْلَمُونَ
And for them you prepare to what you have the capability from strength and the bindings of the horses, (i.e. to check your impulsiveness and to remain calm) so that you terrorize with it to the enemies of Allah and your enemies and others besides them. You do not know them Allah knows them, and whatsoever you spend from anything in the way of Allah, you will be repaid in full and you will not be oppressed.
Enemies of the believers are the terrorists, the violent war-mongers. So, Allah's order is to terrorize your enemies with great preparations (deep pondering in Quran, remember Jihad e Akbar is with Quran 25:52). Terrorize them with all your restraint akin to controlling a violent horse with reins i.e to display dignity, calm and steadfastness. Terrorist, whose wrong interpretation of Allah's Book increase them in violent activities (5:64), will be terrorized of you, if all their violent interpretations of Quran are responded with true Quranic spirit of peace.
9:122-125 وَمَا كَانَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا كَافَّةً ۚ فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَائِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا فِي الدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوا إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ يَلُونَكُم مِّنَ الْكُفَّارِ وَلْيَجِدُوا فِيكُمْ غِلْظَةً ۚ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ وَإِذَا مَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَٰذِهِ إِيمَانًا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كَافِرُونَ
It may not be (possible) that all believers go forth together (in faith). if a contingent from every group devote themselves to studies in Din/Judgment, and admonish the people when they return to them,- thus they (may learn) to guard themselves (against evil). O ye who believe! fight the unbelievers who gird you about, and let them find firmness in you. and know that Allah is with those who fear Him. Whenever there comes down a Sura, some of them say. "Which of you has had his faith increased by it?" , those who believe,- their faith is increased and they do rejoice. But those in whose hearts is a disease,- it will add un-cleanliness to their un-cleanliness, and they will die in a state of rejection.
The above Ayas towards the end of Sura Tuaba (9), indicate that striking out in the way of Allah, is about devoting to studies in matters of Din/Judgment. Those people who have disease in their hearts were exposed earlier in Quran in Aya's 2:8-12, that when they are asked not to make fasad/mischief on Earth they say we are only doing corrections, and they themselves don't know that they are the problematic ones. So these people interpret the above Ayas as Allah asking them to wage war on earth and the disease and uncleanliness in their hearts keep on increasing. As Allah's intention of Peace are revealed and clarified to believers in Quran, their faith increases, but the people bent on violence, their disbelief increases in the opposite direction.
4;84 فَقَاتِلْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَا تُكَلَّفُ إِلَّا نَفْسَكَ ۚ وَحَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۖ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَن يَكُفَّ بَأْسَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ۚ وَاللَّهُ أَشَدُّ بَأْسًا وَأَشَدُّ تَنكِيلًا
Then fight in Allah's cause - There is no hardship in it for you except for your souls (nafs) - and rouse the believers. It may be that Allah will restrain the strength of the Unbelievers; for Allah is the severest in strength and severest in punishment.
Fighting in the way of Allah is not physical fight, it is ideological fight. There is no hard ship in it except on your Nafs/phyche. The believers will prevail in this psychological fight as they are advised to be patient and the non believers are those who don't have knowledge (of Spirit of Al-Quran)
8:65-66 يَا أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ حَرِّضِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ عَلَى الْقِتَالِ ۚ إِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ عِشْرُونَ صَابِرُونَ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّائَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا أَلْفًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ الْآنَ خَفَّفَ اللَّهُ عَنكُمْ وَعَلِمَ أَنَّ فِيكُمْ ضَعْفًا ۚ فَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُم مِّائَةٌ صَابِرَةٌ يَغْلِبُوا مِائَتَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن يَكُن مِّنكُمْ أَلْفٌ يَغْلِبُوا أَلْفَيْنِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
O Apostle! rouse the believers to the fight . If there are twenty patient ones amongst you , they will overpower two hundred. if a hundred, they will overpower a thousand of the Unbelievers. For these are a people without understanding. For the present, Allah has lightened your (task), for He knows that there is some weakness in you. But (even so), if there are a hundred of you, patient and persevering, they will overpower two hundred, and if a thousand, they will overpower two thousand, with the leave of Allah. for Allah is with the patient ones
Consider an example conversation; 'you are able to jog about 10KM, however, as you are starting now, your stamina is not up-to the mark at this time, therefore in the start you will be able to cover up-to 2 KM and if you keep on practicing you can achieve your capacity of 10KM.' As the believer's faith increases and the Sprit of Al-Quran increase their understanding of the message of Quran, they will be able to take more and more of the unbeliever's interpretation of Quran in their ideological fight against them.
لَتُبْلَوُنَّ فِي أَمْوَالِكُمْ وَأَنفُسِكُمْ وَلَتَسْمَعُنَّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ وَمِنَ الَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا أَذًى كَثِيرًا ۚ وَإِن تَصْبِرُوا وَتَتَّقُوا فَإِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ مِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ
Certainly you shall be tested in your wealth and in your selves (psyche); and you shall certainly hear from those who were given the Book before you and from those who joined partners (with Allah) a lot of annoying things. And if you persevere patiently, and take guard against evil,-then surely that is of the strengthened resolve.
The people who join others (instructions of others) with Allah and his instructions, they will be always be taunting believers for their judgment. The believers are told to be patient and take guard.
5:33-34 إِنَّمَا جَزَاءُ الَّذِينَ يُحَارِبُونَ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَسْعَوْنَ فِي الْأَرْضِ فَسَادًا أَن يُقَتَّلُوا أَوْ يُصَلَّبُوا أَوْ تُقَطَّعَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَأَرْجُلُهُم مِّنْ خِلَافٍ أَوْ يُنفَوْا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ لَهُمْ خِزْيٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ تَابُوا مِن قَبْلِ أَن تَقْدِرُوا عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ فَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
Surely the reward of those who wage war against Allah and His Messenger and they move around in the earth to cause corruption/violence, is that they will be killed, or they will be crucified, or their hands and feet will be cut off from the opposite sides or they will be exiled from the land. For them, is disgrace in this world and in the hereafter is a great punishment. Except those who repent before you gaining control over them, then you should know that surely Allah is all forgiving, all merciful.
Those people who have a declaration of war with Allah and the Messenger and who are doing physical fighting, warmongering and corruption in the world, will automatically meet one of the described fates mentioned in the above Ayat as a result of their violent activities. Except for those on which the believers were able to control by showing their wrong ways and then they doing repentance. This is not a punishment that believers are asked by Allah to inflict on them. Also, please note there is only one declaration of war/harab by Allah and the messengers in Quran, and that is only on those believers who don't cease to eat Riba/the increase and the satan has influenced them as such as they look ludicrous in their appearance (see note 1).
47:20 وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَوْلَا نُزِّلَتْ سُورَةٌ ۖ فَإِذَا أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مُّحْكَمَةٌ وَذُكِرَ فِيهَا الْقِتَالُ ۙ رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ نَظَرَ الْمَغْشِيِّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ ۖ فَأَوْلَىٰ لَهُمْ
Those who believe say, "Why is not a sura sent down (for us)?" thus when a sura of categorical meaning is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a disease looking at thee with a look of one fainting from death, which is more fitting for them-
Believers who are peaceful people, pray that Allah reveals the true meaning of (ideological) fighting in Al-Kitab. When real meaning of Qital/Fighting (ideological fight) is clarified from Sooras/chapters of Quran, the people in whose hearts is a disease (see 2:8-12 for the people whose hearts have disease, are the people who like to wage violence/war in earth and they don't realize that they are themselves the violence makers). These people don't like this clarification of Qital verses, which is against their sentiments of war mongering and their faces show death like features, which is in-fact more apt for them as they love violence and to die for it.
Let us review below Ayas in Quran about physical fighting:
5:27-29 وَاتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ ابْنَيْ آدَمَ بِالْحَقِّ إِذْ قَرَّبَا قُرْبَانًا فَتُقُبِّلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمَا وَلَمْ يُتَقَبَّلْ مِنَ الْآخَرِ قَالَ لَأَقْتُلَنَّكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنَّمَا يَتَقَبَّلُ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْمُتَّقِينَ لَئِن بَسَطتَ إِلَيَّ يَدَكَ لِتَقْتُلَنِي مَا أَنَا بِبَاسِطٍ يَدِيَ إِلَيْكَ لِأَقْتُلَكَ ۖ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ إِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَن تَبُوءَ بِإِثْمِي وَإِثْمِكَ فَتَكُونَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ جَزَاءُ الظَّالِمِينَ
And recite over them the news in truth of the two sons of Adam. When they both gave sacrifice to be close (to Allah) then it was accepted from one of them and was not accepted from the other. "He said I will definitely kill you." "He said surely Allah accepts (the sacrifice)from those who guard." "If you will stretch out your hand towards me to kill me, I will not stretch out my hand towards you to kill you. Surely I fear Allah the Lord of the Worlds." "Surely I intend that you reside with my sin (in killing me ) and with your sin. So you will be from the companion of fire. And that is the reward of the oppressors."
What is the lesson we get from the above Ayas? When some one attacks you physically you are not to strike back, why? because Allah is there to recompense fully the evil doers? (See related post of Qasas :
https://topicsfromquran.com/2017/06/04/qasas/)A grave evil act like murder will stay in the psyche of the perpetrator and will haunt him and eventually destroy his psychology. A person doing bad acts can not live peacefully like a person with clean conscience who does not have to fear everyday getting recompensed for his evil actions. If there is a choice, it is always better to leave the scene where some one attacks you to cause bodily harm.
2:84 وَإِذْ أَخَذْنَا مِيثَاقَكُمْ لَا تَسْفِكُونَ دِمَاءَكُمْ وَلَا تُخْرِجُونَ أَنفُسَكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ ثُمَّ أَقْرَرْتُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَشْهَدُونَ
And when We took a covenant with you, not to shed your blood and do not expel your souls/selves from your circles then you confirmed and you are witness to it.
This is the covenant Allah took with Bani Israeel, that they will not shed their blood. So the fighting/Qital which is ordained in Quran is an ideological fight i.e a fight in which you are not allowed to shed your blood.
From the above two sets of Ayas we come to know that with regards to Qital/fighting, if we fear Allah, we cannot not extend our hand towards the one who extends his hand towards us for causing harm. And Allah had taken a covenant from before that we are not to shed our blood. Also in 2:195 Allah orders (لَا تُلْقُوا بِأَيْدِيكُمْ إِلَى التَّهْلُكَةِ) i.e not to put your self to destruction with your own hands. Keeping in view these conditions, now we can see, how and with whom to do Qital/fighting in the way of Allah.
9:29 قَاتِلُوا الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَلَا بِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ الْحَقِّ مِنَ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا الْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَاغِرُونَ
Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which has been made forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor they decide by the judegment of Truth, from the People who has been given the Book, until they pay tribute with their hands while being belittled.
Allah's order to engage in ideological fight, is with those who don't make it forbidden on them, what has been made forbidden by Allah. We will shortly see what is made forbidden by Allah in below Ayas. This ideological fight is to be done with the People of the Book (not labeled Jews and Christians) but with those who have the Book (Al-Quran) however who do not really believe in Allah and accountability and do not act on its injunctions of haram/forbidden acts.
6:151 قُلْ تَعَالَوْا أَتْلُ مَا حَرَّمَ رَبُّكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ ۖ أَلَّا تُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا ۖ وَبِالْوَالِدَيْنِ إِحْسَانًا ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا أَوْلَادَكُم مِّنْ إِمْلَاقٍ ۖ نَّحْنُ نَرْزُقُكُمْ وَإِيَّاهُمْ ۖ وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ ۖ وَلَا تَقْتُلُوا النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّاكُم بِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ
Say. "Come, I will rehearse what Allah has prohibited on you " Do not join anything in partnership with Him; Do good deeds to your parents; Do not kill your children for fear of poverty;- We provide sustenance for you and for them;- do not come near shameful acts whether openly or secretly; and do not kill a nafs/life, which Allah has made forbidden, except with Haq/truth, thus He enjoins you, so that you may use your intellect.
7:33 قُلْ إِنَّمَا حَرَّمَ رَبِّيَ الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ وَالْإِثْمَ وَالْبَغْيَ بِغَيْرِ الْحَقِّ وَأَن تُشْرِكُوا بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ سُلْطَانًا وَأَن تَقُولُوا عَلَى اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
Say. my Lord has indeed forbidden shameful acts, whether open or secret; sins and unjust trespassing; and that you associate partners with Allah, for whom He has sent down no authority; and that you say things about Allah that you do not know.
The above Ayat states what is made forbidden by Allah. The ideological fight ordained as per 9:29, is with those people who associate with Allah, do obscenity, say things about Allah which are not verified by Quran, and kill what is made forbidden by Allah. And remember, ideological fight is a non physical fight in which extending your hand and shedding blood is not allowed. If some one, rejects this peaceful message of Allah and do physical fighting then Allah says that no body can be a bigger oppressor than him, as he will then be tarnishing the image of peaceful Islam.
28:83 تِلْكَ الدَّارُ الْآخِرَةُ نَجْعَلُهَا لِلَّذِينَ لَا يُرِيدُونَ عُلُوًّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلَا فَسَادًا ۚ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ
That Home/circle of the Hereafter We shall give to those who intend no high-handedness nor mischief on earth. and the end is (best) for the righteous.
Those people who fight with the believers in their judgment/Din of Peace as mentioned above and caste them out of the circles of faith and instigate others to caste them out too, believers are prevented to make these people their patrons/guardians. Those people who don't cast the believers out of their circles of faith (does not label them as infidels if their beliefs differ), Allah does not prevent believers to do good to them.
60:8-9 لَّا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ لَمْ يُقَاتِلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَلَمْ يُخْرِجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ أَن تَبَرُّوهُمْ وَتُقْسِطُوا إِلَيْهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ إِنَّمَا يَنْهَاكُمُ اللَّهُ عَنِ الَّذِينَ قَاتَلُوكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ وَأَخْرَجُوكُم مِّن دِيَارِكُمْ وَظَاهَرُوا عَلَىٰ إِخْرَاجِكُمْ أَن تَوَلَّوْهُمْ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّهُمْ فَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الظَّالِمُونَ
Allah does not prevent you with regards to those who do not fight with you and do not drive you out of your circles, from dealing kindly and justly with them, for Allah loves those who are just. Verily, Allah prevents you, with regard to those who fight with you in Din/judgment, and drive you out of your circles, and support (others) in driving you out, from turning to them for patronage. If any turns to them for patronage, then those are the unjust ones.
The below two Ayas are interesting they mention Harab/War.
47:4 فَإِذَا لَقِيتُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَضَرْبَ الرِّقَابِ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ فَشُدُّوا الْوَثَاقَ فَإِمَّا مَنًّا بَعْدُ وَإِمَّا فِدَاءً حَتَّىٰ تَضَعَ الْحَرْبُ أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ وَلَوْ يَشَاءُ اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَلَٰكِن لِّيَبْلُوَ بَعْضَكُم بِبَعْضٍ ۗ وَالَّذِينَ قُتِلُوا فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعْمَالَهُمْ
When you meet the people who reject/cover, strike at the necks; until when you have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond firmly (on them). thereafter either generosity or ransom. Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are you commanded). but if it had been Allah's Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He wants to) test you, some with others. But those who are slain in the Way of Allah,- He will never let their deeds be lost.
47:5-6 سَيَهْدِيهِمْ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَهُمْ وَيُدْخِلُهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ عَرَّفَهَا لَهُمْ
Soon will He guide them and improve their condition, And admit them to the Gardens which He has made known to them.
For the people who are slain the way of the Lord, Allah informs that He will soon guide them and improve their condition, which would mean that its not physical death or fight that was being mentioned here.
68:36-41 مَا لَكُمْ كَيْفَ تَحْكُمُونَ أَمْ لَكُمْ كِتَابٌ فِيهِ تَدْرُسُونَ إِنَّ لَكُمْ فِيهِ لَمَا تَخَيَّرُونَ أَمْ لَكُمْ أَيْمَانٌ عَلَيْنَا بَالِغَةٌ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ ۙ إِنَّ لَكُمْ لَمَا تَحْكُمُونَ سَلْهُمْ أَيُّهُم بِذَٰلِكَ زَعِيمٌ أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ فَلْيَأْتُوا بِشُرَكَائِهِمْ إِن كَانُوا صَادِقِينَ
What is the matter with you? How do you judge? Or for you is a book through which you have taken lesson? In it (the other book), do you find anything you want? Or, have you received solemn assurances from us that grant you whatever you wish till the Day of Resurrection? Ask you of them, which of them is the guarantor of that! Or have they some "Partners" (in Allah)? Then let them come with their "partners", if they are truthful!
These partners (in Allah) give orders of violence and mischief on earth and cloak these orders under the guise of Shariat and Jihad. The partners are those who make Shariat i.e write shriat/Fiqh books.
42:21 أَمْ لَهُمْ شُرَكَاءُ شَرَعُوا لَهُم مِّنَ الدِّينِ مَا لَمْ يَأْذَن بِهِ اللَّهُ ۚ وَلَوْلَا كَلِمَةُ الْفَصْلِ لَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُمْ ۗ وَإِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ
Do they have partners, who have established for them ways in religion (Shariat) without the permission of Allah? Had it not been for the Decree of Judgment, the matter would have been decided between them (at once). But verily the Wrong-doers will have a grievous Penalty.