The terrorists, extremists, and those who aim to attack the Quran explains this verse without knowledge, understanding, or awareness of the true meaning intended by it. Thus, they take it to mean the exact opposite of what it really means.

 (…انسَلَخَ…) (…have passed,…): The Arabic word refers to something that happens slowly or gradually.

...الْأَشْهُرُ الْحُرُمُ… (the sacred months…): The sacred months being four: one is singular, and that is Rajab, and three are consecutive, namely, Dhu al-Qa’dah, Dhu al-Hijjah, and Muharram.”

…فَاقْتُلُوا الْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ.. (then kill the polytheists wherever you find them.): Some may wrongly assume, upon reading this verse, that the reason for killing is the association of others with Allah (swt), and this is not correct at all. The reason for fighting is aggression and hostility, not the polytheism. We must understand the intended meaning through the context of the Surah. Allah (swt) has clarified that adhering to treaties and agreements is obligatory. However, the polytheists violated these agreements. It is as though Allah (swt) decreed that, after the idolaters were given a four month respite and those whose pacts would last longer than that were given until the end of them, the punishment of the idolaters would be then death. In this context, Islam experienced the domineering leaders of disbelief in the four stages: The first stage involved persecution by the Arab leaders and Quraysh on the believers. The second stage included deception and schemes. The third stage involved killing by them. The fourth stage was characterized by the violation of treaties. The command to fight here is for self-defense because they violated treaties and covenants, committed treacherous acts against the tribe of Khuza’ah. Verify, it is necessary to respond to aggression, and no one has the right to misinterpret the verse by divorcing it from its context, reasons for revelation, meanings, and overall context.

(…وَخُذُوهُمْ وَاحْصُرُوهُمْ…) (Capture them and besiege them): This means restricting their movement.

…وَاقْعُدُوا لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍ ۚ.. (And sit in wait for them at every place of ambush.): It means to watch every movement and matter related to them because they are enemies and they are those who have committed aggression against Muslims.

(… فَإِن تَابُوا وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَوُا الزَّكَاةَ… ) (But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah): Allah (swt) opens for them the door of repentance.

…فَخَلُّوا سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ.. (let them [go] on their way): If those whom you have captured and those whom you have besieged, repent and return to the right path by establishing prayer and giving charity, then set them free and let them go on their way, for there should be no animosity in religion.