{ But when the sacred months have passed, kill the Idolaters wherever you find them, and take hold of them, and bring them under siege, and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush; but if they turn in repentance, and observe prayer, and bring zakat, then let them go on their way; indeed Allah is forgiving, merciful } Al-tawba5

{ Kill the idolaters } : that is, kill them; { wherever you find them } : that is, wherever on earth you face them, in the sacred sanctuary and other places, in the sacred months and in other months; { and take hold of them } : that is, take them captive; { and bring them under siege } : that is, prohibit them from moving freely in the territory of Islam, and from entering Mecca; { and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush } : that is, sit in wait for them, ready to kill them or take them captive; “every place of ambush” meaning every road and lookout.