The Hadith "I Have Been Commanded to Fight People..." Between the Misinterpretations of Detractors and Extremist Terrorists

This study examines the prophetic hadith, "I have been commanded to fight people until they testify that there is no god but Allah...," which has been misinterpreted by two groups: first, detractors who cite its apparent meaning to accuse Islam of coercion and violence, and second, extremist terrorists who misuse it to justify their violent actions through erroneous interpretations. Using an analytical-critical methodology and relying on authentic hadith and exegetical sources, the research demonstrates that the term "fight" (اقاتل) refers to combat (a bilateral engagement) rather than killing, and that "people" (الناس) in the hadith specifically denotes polytheistic combatants who obstruct the proclamation of faith, not all people indiscriminately. Additionally, by contextualizing the hadith historically and referencing Quranic evidence, such as the verse "There is no compulsion in religion," the study proves that Islam mandates defensive combat against aggressors, not offensive warfare against non-Muslims. Key findings also emphasize the prohibition of declaring Muslims apostates and the necessity of adhering to jurisprudential guidelines in this regard. By critiquing extremist misinterpretations and refuting detractors' objections, the research underscores the importance of accurate textual understanding and avoiding arbitrary interpretations.

کلیدواژه ها:

Prophetic hadith ، combat ، extremist terrorism ، takfir (excommunication) ، polytheistic combatants ، detractors