{ 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-tawba 5

His word: { And take hold of them } : that is, capture them, killing if you like, or taking prisoner if you like. And His word: { And bring them under siege, and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush } : that is, do not settle for merely having strong feelings towards them, but rather aim to blockade them in their strongholds and ramparts, and by lying in wait on their roads and passageways, until you constrict their open spaces and compel them either to getting killed or to Islam … Then the expositors differed regarding this verse of the sword; Al-Dahhak and Al-Suddi said: This is abrogated by the word of the Most High: { Afterwards either an act of kindness or ransom } [Muhammad 4]. Qatada said the opposite.