The word of the Most High: { So whenever you face those who have disbelieved, strike the necks } [Muhammad 4] : that is, whenever you face them in battle, strike their necks, that is, kill them; the meaning is “strike the necks hard.” … Ibn ‘Abbas said: This verse is abrogated by His word: { Kill the Idolaters wherever you find them } [Al-tawba 5]. This was the position taken by Abu Hanifa, who said: Acts of kindness to prisoners are not permitted, nor is ransom with wealth or anything else from the prisoners; and captives from the warring party are not to be sold. … The expositors did not disagree that Al-tawba came down after surah Muhammad (SAW); and there is no disagreement among scholars concerning the permissibility of killing a prisoner or the permissibility of distributing the prisoners among the Muslims, whenever there are no prisoners from the Arabs. However, they did disagree regarding the permissibility of acts of kindness towards them in releasing them in return for money or them offering up themselves. … Ibn ‘Abbas said: The meaning of His word { Until the war puts down its burdens } is: Until none of the Idolaters are left; Mujahid said: Until there is no religion but Islam. … The meaning of this verse then is: Exhaust the Idolaters by killing and imprisonment until Islam prevails over all religions.