Permission to fight

Up to this point the Prophet had counselled Muslims to endure insults and abuses in silence. Now, however, the Muslims had the upper hand. This new found supremacy triggered off even fiercer opposition from their enemies. At last, Allah made it permissible to fight against their oppressors, and this permission later became a duty. The permission to fight was given in stages. At first the Muslims were allowed to fight only the Quraysh because they were the first to oppress Muslims in Makkah.

Muslims were also allowed to seize their goods, but not those of tribes at peace with them.

Then the Muslims were allowed to fight any pagan tribe that allied itself with the Quraysh, or any other pagan tribe that oppressed Muslims.

Later, the Muslims were permitted to fight any Jewish tribe that broke its covenant with the Muslims. In such a case, the covenant was automatically nullified.

Subsequently, the Muslims were allowed to fight “People of the Book” (Christians and Jews) who harassed or persecuted them. If the “People of the Book” surrendered to the Islamic state and paid Jiziyah (a nominal tax), then the Muslims were forbidden to fight them.

Finally, the Muslims were required to make peace with any polytheists, Jews or Christians who embraced Islam, and to respect their rights and property.