( وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ) (And fight them until there is no fitnah): The command to fight is not for the purpose of spreading Islam by force, and Islam did not spread by the sword as some claim. The principles and Islamic beliefs were not imposed by coercion. However, when there is persecution and aggression, believers are commanded to fight against the aggressors. The directive is not to fight against those who differ in beliefs, for the fighting is not due to differences in belief systems; rather, the reason for engaging in combat is aggression and inciting discord by the enemy.

( وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ) (and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah): It is unthinkable and impermissible for the worship of idols to persist in Mecca. Religion should be entirely devoted to Allah (swt).

( فَإِنِ انتَهَوْا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ ) (And if they cease – then indeed, Allah is Seeing of what they do): If they refrain from associating partners with Allah (swt), abandon idol worship, and cease their aggression, then Allah (swt) is well-aware and observant of all matters.