[Sidenote: 97. The Kifaya refuted.] Here the author of Kifaya has contrived to make out by way of subterfuge and sophistry five successive periods of the policy of the Koran regarding warfare against the unbelievers: | | First Period |Forgiveness and withdrawal | Sura XV, 85. VI, 106 ---------------+-------------------------------+------------------------- | | Second Period |Summoning | Sura XVI, 126. ---------------+-------------------------------+------------------------- | | Third Period |Fighting in self-defence | Sura XXII, 40. II, 187. | | VIII, 63. ---------------+-------------------------------+------------------------- | | Fourth Period |Fighting aggressively | Sura IX, 5. |during certain times | | | ---------------+-------------------------------+------------------------- | | Fifth Period |Aggressive fighting absolutely.| Sura II, 189. VIII, 40. | | He is wrong in history, chronology as well as in understanding the general scope of the Koran and the tenor of the Suras. He does not regard even the context of the verses quoted. The verses containing injunctions for turning aside, shunning, forgiving, passing over, and withdrawing are found even in the later period of the Medinite Suras.--(_Vide_ Sura II, 103; V, 16, 46; Sura IV, 66, 83; and VII, 198.) They have nothing to do either with war or peace. The summoning of people to the faith of God was the chief duty of the Prophetical office, and was not confined to any special period, and was alike during times of war and peace. Even during the actual warfare it was incumbent on the Prophet to give quarters to the enemy, if he desired, to listen to his preachings.--(_Vide_ Sura IX, 6.) [Sidenote: 98. S. IX, v. 5, discussed.] The fifth verse of the ninth Sura is by no means an injunction to attack first or wage an aggressive war. This verse is one of the several published at Medina after the Meccans had violated the treaty of Hodeibia and attacked the Bani Khozaa, who were in alliance with Mohammad. The Meccans were given four months' time to submit, in default of which they were to be attacked for their violation of the treaty and for their attacking the Bani Khozaa. They submitted beforehand, and Mecca was conquered by compromise. The verses referred to above (Sura IX, 1-15, &c.) were not acted upon. So there was no injunction to wage an aggressive war. This subject has been discussed at pages 51-55 of this work, and the reader is referred to them for fuller information. [Sidenote: 99. S. II, v. 189, discussed.]