The Quran

Preface

سَتَجِدونَ آخَرينَ يُريدونَ أَن يَأمَنوكُم وَيَأمَنوا قَومَهُم كُلَّ ما رُدّوا إِلَى الفِتنَةِ أُركِسوا فيها ۚ فَإِن لَم يَعتَزِلوكُم وَيُلقوا إِلَيكُمُ السَّلَمَ وَيَكُفّوا أَيدِيَهُم فَخُذوهُم وَاقتُلوهُم حَيثُ ثَقِفتُموهُم ۚ وَأُولٰئِكُم جَعَلنا لَكُم عَلَيهِم سُلطانًا مُبينًا

Yusuf Ali

Others you will find that wish to gain your confidence as well as that of their people: Every time they are sent back¹ to temptation, they succumb thereto: if they withdraw not from you nor give you (guarantees) of peace besides restraining their hands, seize them and slay them wherever ye get them: In their case We have provided you with a clear argument against them.

As opposed to the two classes of deserters to whom clemency may be shown, there is a class which is treacherous and dangerous and cannot be left alone. They try to win your confidence, and are all the time in the confidence of the enemy. Every time they get a chance, they succumb to the temptation of double-dealing. The best way of dealing with them is to treat them as open enemies. Keep them not in your midst. If they give you guarantees of peace and do not actually fight against you, well and good. If not, they are deserters actively fighting in the ranks of the enemy. They have openly given you proof, and you can fairly seize and slay them in war as deserters and enemies.