Does Islam Say to Fight with Jews and Christians

In Islam, there is no reference to fighting with Jews and Christians, but it is allowed in Islam to fight in self-defense. This applies not only to Jews and Christians but also to Muslims; if two Muslim groups start fighting, the same principles apply to them as to Jews, Christians, or anyone else. However, Islam promotes that it is better to avoid war and restore peace. If one party starts fighting and then stops, we should not continue to fight with them. In this article, I will include all references.

📖Quran 9:29
Fight those who do not believe in Allah or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allah and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth from those who were given the Scripture – [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.

This verse is very popular, as many Christians and Jews use it to claim that we should fight with them until they accept Islam or pay a tax. However, this verse was revealed at a time when people of the scriptures, including Jews, Christians, and Zoroastrians, started fighting against Muslims. It is not necessary to single out Jews or Christians, but they have allied with the pagans The earlier verses of Surah At-Tawbah (especially verses 9:1-28) describe how some of the tribes and groups had broken their peace treaties with the Muslims. Specifically, and they initiated the fight, which led to the revelation of this verse. While this verse still applies today, it must be understood in the same context. For example, if a country has a law that requires tax payments, Islam’s Jizyah is similar to a tax that must be paid to maintain the country and protect its population from external threats. It helps build the country, creates jobs in the army and police, and supports national defense. Therefore, if there are one million Christians in Saudi Arabia and they do not pay tax, Muslim countries would apply pressure to have them pay the tax. If they refuse and choose to fight instead, the verse would apply, meaning they must either accept Islam or agree to pay the tax. This principle also applies to Muslims, who must pay taxes as well. So, this verse is a law that does not promote fighting without cause.

📖Book 17, Hadith 46
Imam Malik said: “The sunna is that no jizya is taken from women or children of the People of the Book. It is only taken from men who have reached puberty. The People of the Book and Magians do not pay zakat on crops or livestock, but only jizya as agreed. If they travel for trade in Muslim lands, a tenth is taken from their goods, since this is outside the original agreement.

In non-Muslim countries today, you see the same principle under a different name:

• Citizens pay taxes for security, defense, and public services.
• Foreign traders or visitors often pay customs duties, tariffs, or higher trade taxes when doing business.
• Some groups may be exempt (like women, children, elderly, poor, or students) depending on the law.

So the jizya system in Islam functioned like a fair tax system: Muslims paid zakat (on wealth, crops, livestock, etc.), while non-Muslims didn’t pay zakat but instead paid jizya in exchange for protection and exemption from military duty. In today’s terms, it’s very close to how states manage taxation and defense costs, just under different names.

📖Quran 29:46
And do not argue with the People of the Scripture except in a way that is best, except for those who commit injustice among them, and say, “We believe in that which has been revealed to us and revealed to you. And our God and your God is one; and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.

This verse is enough evidence that the verse about fighting was revealed based on context, when they started fighting. Otherwise, it is not even allowed to speak with them in a harsh or insulting way.

📖Quran 5:51
O you who have believed, do not take the Jews and the Christians as allies. They are [in fact] allies of one another. And whoever is an ally to them among you – then indeed, he is [one] of them. Indeed, Allah guides not the wrongdoing people.

• This verse advises against making Jews and Christians allies in a context of conflict, war, or following practices that go against Islamic principles, such as eating pork or drinking alcohol. It emphasizes that they are united in their alliances with each other, and if a Muslim aligns with them in such matters, he is supporting their interests, which is considered wrong in the eyes of Allah. This does not mean Muslims cannot be friends with them, as many Christians falsely claim about this verse. Rather, it means that if you rely on them, they will try to lead you away from Allah, deceive you, break their promises, and push you to do what they want instead of what Allah commands.👇

📖Quran 60:8
Allah does not forbid you from those who do not fight you because of religion and do not expel you from your homes— from being righteous toward them and acting justly toward them. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

📖Quran 2:256
Let there be no compulsion in religion, for the right course has become clear from the wrong. So whoever renounces false gods and believes in Allah has certainly grasped the most trustworthy, unfailing hand-hold. And Allah is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

📖Qur’an 5:82
You will surely find the most intense of the people in animosity toward the believers [to be] the Jews and those who associate others with Allah ; and you will find the nearest of them in affection to the believers those who say, “We are Christians.” That is because among them are priests and monks and because they are not arrogant.

This verse Quran 5:51 refers to a group of people who call themselves Christians but do not truly follow the teachings of Christ, those who ally themselves with the Jews, support their schemes, or act against Muslims. Such alliances are warned against, as they align with wrongdoing, In contrast, Quran 5:82 talks about a group of Christians who are truly good, humble, and righteous, such as priests and monks, who show affection and kindness toward Muslims.

Logically, this shows the Qur’an distinguishes two types of Christians:

1. Those who depend on money and power, claiming Christianity without following its true principles, allying with wrongdoing (5:51).
2. Those who genuinely follow the teachings, live humbly, and are kind and affectionate toward Muslims (5:82).

This distinction emphasizes that the Qur’an judges people by their actions and sincerity, not merely by the religion they claim.

When the Qur’an speaks of those who associate others with Allah, it directly refers to idolaters (mushrikun) who knowingly worship many deities alongside God, offering them prayers, sacrifices, and devotion as separate gods, Christians, however, fall into it in a different way. They themselves do not accept or realize that what they practice is a form of shirk. They believe they are following monotheism, but in giving Jesus divine status, or in taking priests and monks as authorities above God’s words, they blur the line between monotheism and idolatry.

So:

• Idolaters knowingly worship multiple gods.
• Christians think they are worshipping one God, but without realizing it, they slip into shirk by mixing human authority or figures into divinity.

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2. Fighting Only in Self-Defense and Protecting the Oppressed

In this article, I have included references and explanations showing that there are no verses in the Qur’an that instruct Muslims to fight anyone without reason. However, if someone attacks us, we have the right to self-defense. Here are some relevant verses:

📖Quran 2:216
Battle has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you. But perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you; and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah knows, while you know not.

• In Quran 2:216, Allah acknowledges the discomfort and reluctance humans may feel towards conflict, stating that battle has been enjoined upon them, even though it is hateful. The verse emphasizes that while something may seem undesirable, it might hold greater wisdom and benefit, even if it is not immediately apparent. In this case, although fighting is difficult and against human inclination, God, in His infinite knowledge, understands the broader context and purpose behind it. He knows that protecting people and defending them from oppression may be essential, even if it feels difficult or unwelcome. The verse reminds us that Allah’s wisdom surpasses our limited understanding, and what may seem harmful or unpleasant in the moment could have a greater, unseen benefit in the long run.

📖Quran 4:75
And what is [the matter] with you that you fight not in the cause of Allah and [for] the oppressed among men, women, and children who say, “Our Lord, take us out of this city of oppressive people and appoint for us from Yourself a protector and appoint for us from Yourself a helper?

• Quran 4:75 urges believers to fight for the cause of Allah and defend the oppressed, including men, women, and children suffering under injustice. The verse highlights the responsibility to support those who cry out for help, seeking Allah’s protection and assistance in freeing them from oppression, as Quran 60:8 says, “expel you from your homes.” At that time, the Quran urges us to protect them. There are no verses in the entire Quran that allow fighting without reason; only impostors spread lies on social media platforms.

📖Quran 2:190
Fight in the way of Allah those who fight you but do not transgress. Indeed. Allah does not like transgressors.

• Quran 2:190 instructs Muslims to fight only in self-defense against those who engage in battle with them, while emphasizing the importance of not overstepping limits. It stresses that transgression, unprovoked aggression or harm, is prohibited, and Allah dislikes such behavior. The verse highlights the principle of just warfare and restraint.

📖Quran 22:27
Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged. And indeed, Allah is competent to give them victory.

In this verse, it is mentioned that permission is only given if someone fights, and we have the right to fight back.

📖Quran 8:61
And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah . Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.

And in this verse, it says that suppose even if there is a fight between Christians and Muslims, and the Christians are ready for peace, we are told to accept the peace deal instead of fighting with them. In the Qur’an, the rest of the verses describe how to fight, but there are no verses in the entire Qur’an that promote fighting with anyone without reason. The same applies to Muslims here 👇

📖Quran 49:9
And if two factions among the believers should fight, then make settlement between the two. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the ordinance of Allah . And if it returns, then make settlement between them in justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.

• This verse allows fighting only when one group of Muslims starts a conflict without cause and causes harm. If the oppressed group seeks peace and the aggressors refuse to listen and continue committing wrongdoing, then fighting is permitted to protect the innocent and stop oppression. It is strictly based on protection and justice, not revenge or personal gain. The principle is clear: action is allowed only to defend and restore justice, not as “I will do whatever I want because you did something to me.

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3. If Fight Without Valid Reason, Both in Hellfire

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 31
Narrated Al-Ahnaf bin Qais: While I was going to help this man (‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib), Abu Bakra met me and asked, “Where are you going?” I replied, “I am going to help that person.” He said, “Go back for I have heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying, ‘When two Muslims fight (meet) each other with their swords, both the murderer as well as the murdered will go to the Hell-fire.’ I said, ‘O Allah’s Messenger ﷺ! It is all right for the murderer but what about the murdered one?’ Allah’s Messenger ﷺ replied, “He surely had the intention to kill his companion.”

• This hadith shows that if Muslims fight each other out of hatred, politics, or worldly reasons, both sides share in sin, since both intended to kill unjustly. Islam forbids such killing – fighting is only allowed if one group attacks without right, and even then, the first step is peaceful reconciliation. If they persist, fighting is permitted only to defend the innocent and stop oppression.

The same applies with non-Muslims. Muslims have no right to fight or kill them unless they attack first. Whoever kills unjustly falls under the severe warning of Allah.

📖Quran 25:68
And those who do not invoke any other god besides Allah, nor kill the soul which Allah has made sacred, except by right, nor commit fornication. And whoever does this shall meet a penalty.

This verse makes it clear: killing a soul that Allah has made sacred – whether Muslim or non-Muslim – without right is among the gravest sins, alongside shirk and adultery, and leads to Hell.