My one friend @ demon overlord quoted QUR'AN 9:5 but he forgot to quote QURAN 9:6 in this topic topic id: 2062830 :P “… Fight and slay the Mushrik Kafir wherever you find them …” (Al Qur’an 9:5) :) If you read the Qur’an, this verse exists but it is quoted out of context by Arun Shourie. The first few verses of Surah Tawbah before verse 5 speak about the peace treaty between the Muslims and Muskhriks (polytheists) of Makkah. This peace treaty was unilaterally broken by the Mushriks of Makkah. In verse no. 5 Allah (swt) gives them an ultimatum to put things straight in four months ’ time, or else face a declaration of war. It is for the battlefield that Allah says “fight and slay the Mushriks (i.e. the enemies from Makkah) wherever you find them and seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem of war”. This verse is revealed and instructs the Muslims to fight in the battlefield and kill the enemy wherever you find them. But natural, any army general to boost up the morale of the soldiers and to encourage them will say “Don’t get scared, fight and kill the enemies, wherever you find them in the battlefield. Arun Shourie in his book ‘The World of Fatwas’ after quoting Surah Tawbah chapter 9 verse 5 jumps to verse 7. Any logical person will realize that verse 6 has the reply to his allegation. Surah Tawbah chapter 9 verse 6 says: :) “If any amongst the Mushriks (i.e. the enemies) ask thee for asylum, grant it to him so that he may hear the word of Allah and then escort him to where he can be secure ”. (Al Qur’an 9:6) :) Today the most merciful army general may tell his soldiers to let the enemy go, but Almighty Allah in the Qur ’an says if the enemy wants peace do not just let them go but escort them to a place of security. Which army general in today ’s day and age, or rather in the whole of recorded human history is ever known to have given such merciful instructions? Now will someone ask Mr. Arun Shourie Why did he deliberately not quote verse 6? :P