A Critical Exposition of the Popular 'Jihád'/Chapter 12/100
[Sidenote: 100. S. II, 189, VIII, 40, are defensive.]
Besides, this verse as well as the fortieth verse of Sura VIII have indications in themselves of their relating to a defensive war. As the torture, aggression, in short, the persecutions suffered by the Moslems from the Koreish, are very clearly indicated by the word fitnah in these two verses, the object of fighting or counterfighting by the Moslems is plainly set forth, which is to suppress the persecutions.
They have clear reference to the persecution, to stop or remove which they enjoined fighting, and this was fighting in self-defence obviously.
They also show that the Meccans had not desisted from persecuting and attacking the Moslems, and therefore a provision was made that if they discontinue their incursions, there will be no more hostility. This is quite sufficient to show that these verses relate to the defensive wars of Mohammad.