The Quran

Preface

فَإِذا لَقيتُمُ الَّذينَ كَفَروا فَضَربَ الرِّقابِ حَتّىٰ إِذا أَثخَنتُموهُم فَشُدُّوا الوَثاقَ فَإِمّا مَنًّا بَعدُ وَإِمّا فِداءً حَتّىٰ تَضَعَ الحَربُ أَوزارَها ۚ ذٰلِكَ وَلَو يَشاءُ اللَّهُ لَانتَصَرَ مِنهُم وَلٰكِن لِيَبلُوَ بَعضَكُم بِبَعضٍ ۗ وَالَّذينَ قُتِلوا في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ فَلَن يُضِلَّ أَعمالَهُم

Yusuf Ali

Therefore, when ye meet¹ the Unbelievers (in fight), smite at their necks; At length, when ye have thoroughly subdued them, bind a bond² firmly (on them): thereafter (is the time for) either generosity or ransom:³ Until the war lays down its burdens. Thus (are ye commanded): but if it had been God’s Will, He could certainly have exacted retribution from them (Himself); but (He lets you fight) in order to test you,⁴ some with others. But those who are slain⁵ in the Way of God,- He will never let their deeds be lost.

When once the fight (Jihad) is entered upon, carry it out with the utmost vigour, and strike home your blows at the most vital points (smite at their necks), both literally and figuratively. You cannot wage war with kid gloves.
In the first onset there must necessarily be great lass of life; but when the enemy is fairly beaten, which means, in a Jihad, that he is not likely to seek again the persecution of Truth, firm arrangements should be made to bring him under control. I thus construe the words “bind a bond firmly (on them)”, but others have construed the words to mean, “after the enemy’s numbers are fairly thinned down, prisoners may be taken”. With this passage may be compared 8:67, and n. 1234.
When once the enemy is brought under control, generosity (i.e., the release of prisoners without ransom) or ransom is recommended.
The Believers are tested in Faith by the extent to which they are willing to make sacrifices, even to the laying down of their lives; and the enemies are tested as to whether they would repent and let the righteous live in freedom and security.
There are two alternative readings. (1) qatalu, “those who fight”, and (2) qatilu, “those who are slain”. The meaning under the first reading is wider, and includes that under the second. I have translated on the basis of the second reading, which is in accordance with the text of the Royal Egyptian edition###