In the Quran, only self-defense is permitted. One of the best distortion tactics used by opponents of Islam is to cherry-pick verses. By doing this, a verse is taken out of the context of the surah and made to appear as if it commands offensive war and religious oppression, when in fact, it only permits defensive war. For example:
Surah 9 - At-Tawbah
1. This is a declaration of disassociation from Allah and His Messenger to those polytheists with whom you have made a treaty.
2. Travel freely through the land for four months, but know that you cannot escape Allah and that Allah will disgrace the disbelievers.
3. And a proclamation from Allah and His Messenger to the people on the day of the greater pilgrimage: Allah is disassociated from the polytheists, and so is His Messenger. So if you repent, it is better for you, but if you turn away, then know that you cannot escape Allah. And give tidings of a painful punishment to those who disbelieve.
4. Except for those polytheists with whom you made a treaty and who did not break it nor supported anyone against you, so fulfill their treaty until its term. Indeed, Allah loves the righteous who fear Him.
5. And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them, besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat, let them go on their way. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
6. And if any of the polytheists seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the word of Allah. Then escort him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.
7 .How can there be a treaty with the polytheists from Allah and His Messenger, except those with whom you made a treaty at al-Masjid al-Haram? So as long as they are upright toward you, be upright toward them. Indeed, Allah loves the righteous who fear Him.
It is clear here that the command is to fight in self-defense against the disbelievers who break the treaty and attack. However, those who do not break the treaty or attack are not to be attacked, and if those attacking stop, you are commanded to make peace immediately.
9:12 But if they break their oaths after making a treaty and defame your religion, then fight the leaders of disbelief, for surely their oaths are nothing to them. Perhaps they will stop.
9:13 Will you not fight against people who have broken their oaths, conspired to expel the Messenger, and attacked you first? Do you fear them? Allah is more deserving of your fear if you are believers.
9:14 Fight them! Allah will punish them by your hands, disgrace them, help you overcome them, and soothe the hearts of the believers.
In this surah as well, the command is to fight against those who attack and defend yourselves.
This is the command in all the surahs regarding warfare. However, those who want to distort the message cherry-pick verses about self-defense and make it seem as if the command is to indiscriminately capture and kill disbelievers without cause.
But in reality, there is only one instruction: defend yourself against those who attack you, and if they stop, you too should make peace.
"Fight in the way of Allah against those who fight against you but do not transgress. Verily, Allah does not love transgressors. Kill them wherever you find them and expel them from where they expelled you, for oppression is worse than killing. Do not fight them at the Sacred Mosque unless they fight you there. But if they fight you, then fight them back. Such is the recompense of the disbelievers. But if they cease, then Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. Fight them until there is no more oppression and the religion is entirely for Allah. But if they cease, there is to be no hostility except against the oppressors." (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:190-193)
Again, if one of these verses about defensive war is cherry-picked, it can be made to look like it says to attack disbelievers, but this strategy is frequently used.
In the Quran, freedom of thought is fundamental. Since this is a world of trial, people are free to believe what they wish so that they can be held accountable for it in the Hereafter. Therefore, in Islam, there is only preaching. No one can harm another person because of their belief; otherwise, they would only be harming themselves.
Surah Al-Ma'arij 42: "Leave them! Let them plunge and play until they reach their appointed day."
Surah Al-An'am 112: "And thus We have made for every prophet enemies—devils from mankind and jinn, inspiring to one another adorned speech in delusion. But if your Lord had willed, they would not have done it; so leave them and that which they invent."
Surah Al-Mumtahina 60: "Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just to those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who act justly."
Everyone is free to believe and live as they wish so that they can be held accountable for their belief in the Hereafter:
Surah Al-Baqarah 256: "There is no compulsion in religion. The right path has become distinct from the wrong. Whoever rejects false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the firmest handhold, which will never break. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing."
Surah Al-Kahf 29: "Say, 'The truth is from your Lord. So whoever wills, let him believe; and whoever wills, let him disbelieve.' Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them. If they call for relief, they will be given water like boiling oil that scalds their faces. Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting place."
Surah Yunus 10:99: "And if your Lord had willed, all those on the earth would have believed entirely. Then, would you compel the people in order that they become believers?"
Yes, there is freedom of thought and the liberty to live as one wishes. War is prohibited except for self-defense. You cannot even slap someone.
One of the clearest proofs that the verses permitting self-defense have nothing to do with religious coercion and that the sole purpose is to stop the aggressor is the following verse:
Surah Al-Hujurat 49:9: "And if two parties among the believers fight, then make peace between them. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the oppressor until they return to the command of Allah. And if they return, then make peace between them with justice and fairness. Verily, Allah loves those who act justly."
As can be seen, even if the aggressor is a Muslim community, you are commanded to fight them until they incline towards peace, meaning until they stop their aggression.
In every verse, the goal is to establish peace and stop the aggressor or oppressor. Otherwise, everyone is free to live according to their chosen belief.
(My Turkish article translated with machine)
