Killing polytheists in Islam

Author: Abu Hena Muhammad Rafique

Question no.8: Why does Quran say: Kill polytheists? What is the logic behind this?
فَإِذَا ٱنسَلَخَ ٱلْأَشْهُرُ ٱلْحُرُمُ فَٱقْتُلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ وَخُذُوهُمْ وَٱحْصُرُوهُمْ وَٱقْعُدُوا۟ لَهُمْ كُلَّ مَرْصَدٍۢ ۚ فَإِن تَابُوا۟ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَوُا۟ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ فَخَلُّوا۟ سَبِيلَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ [٩:٥]
“But when the sacred months pass away then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and catch them, besiege them and sit in ambush for them in every place of ambush. Then if they repent (turning to the right path by making Tawbah) and pay zakat then leave them in their way (to live in peace because through these two acts of obedience they have proved their eemaan (fidelity in faith).”
Answer:
The pattern of the sentence indicates that the words under study were said under some context and then after searching we find that this part of the ‘command’ precedes a situation which starts from verse no 3. So, let us look at the third and fourth preceding verses and then the following more verses, where it is said:
وَأَذَ‌ٰنٌۭ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ يَوْمَ ٱلْحَجِّ ٱلْأَكْبَرِ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَرِىٓءٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ۙ وَرَسُولُهُۥ ۚ فَإِن تُبْتُمْ فَهُوَ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَإِن تَوَلَّيْتُمْ فَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُمْ غَيْرُ مُعْجِزِى ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ [٩:٣]
“And this is an announcement from Allaah and His Rasool to the mankind on the day of Hajj-Al-Akbar that Allaah is free from all obligations regarding the polytheists; and the Rasool is also free from any obligation regarding them. So, beware that you are not capable of overcoming Allaah; and O prophet! give a tiding to the unbelievers, of a painful doom.
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّم مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنقُصُوكُمْ شَيْـًۭٔا وَلَمْ يُظَـٰهِرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًۭا فَأَتِمُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ [٩:٤]
“Except those of the mushrikeen (polytheists) with whom you have made treaty and then they did not break any point of that treaty, nor have they supported anybody against you, so, in that case you fulfil your promise, given to them up to the term of treaty. Verily, Allaah loves the Allaah-fearing peple (who ward off any bad behavior with Allaah’s fear).
Then comes the fifth verse, commanding the head of the state or the authority of the Islamic State (in Hijaz = Makka + Madina + Jidda etc, and their common Muslims to kill or seize, when found any Mushrik in this Islamic state. Why?
Answer: Because, they were given either of the following two options: accepting Islam with performing SALAT and paying zakat or to go out of the Islamic State if they cannot comply with these obligations. 
While delivering sermon, on the Day of great Hajj, held in 9th Hijri, in the final and farewell Hajj, Rasoolullah sm. envisaged his retirement from the duty of messengership (message-bearing responsibility). When delivering his great sermon at the great field of Arafat in the huge gathering of one hundred and twenty thousand pilgrims, assembled from almost all over the world, who declared in one voice: “Allaah is the Great”, No supreme Power is there but Allaah, Allah is the Great, and His is the praise (and the  credit).
This declaration signified that supremacy and sovereignty of Allaah had already been established in the teeth of  all oppositions, launched by many self-designed time- being superiors, elders, dictators and emperors; and the declaration of “La-ilaha illal-laaha” (no supreme authority or sovereign is there but Allaah. Hence nobody is allowed to live here (in the boundary of Islamic State)) to make any confusion. After knowing all the justifications of the Supremacy of Allaah and that of the Islamic System if they do not make TAWBAH (penitence), nor they live peacefully under some treaty, done beforehand and breaking any condition of the treaty or helping anti-Islamic power, then they are being given four months time (months of Muharram, Safar, Rabiul Awal and Rabius-thani). It means, after getting four months’ time if they do not decide either to accept Islam (by two practical major proofs of belief or do not leave their homes in Islamic State) then it will mean that they do not bother about Islamic system nor they care about the order of Allaah and think that they can do anything ignoring the Islamic Athority , then they would be killed. But, if, after the expiry of four months they are not killed, then they would spread such confusion which would spoil the law and order and ultimately peace and prosperity would come to an end .
Allaah is all powerful to keep Islamic State self-sufficient, if the infidel world, for this strict injunction, becomes allergic or antagonistic, then they further must not be given any chance to do any mischief. Thus under such context comes Allah’s command of that strict treatment. Relevantly, it should be made clear that Allaah SWT is Powerful enough to implement His policy in His world-wide domain, not caring anybody’s wish or likeness.
But Allaah swt, is so generous that He is giving all chances to the sincere and to the people of good understanding by saying:
وَإِنْ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ٱسْتَجَارَكَ فَأَجِرْهُ حَتَّىٰ يَسْمَعَ كَلَـٰمَ ٱللَّهِ ثُمَّ أَبْلِغْهُ مَأْمَنَهُۥ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌۭ لَّا يَعْلَمُونَ [٩:٦]
“But, if any of the polytheists seek shelter to you (O Prophet or the head of Islamic State) so give him shelter, till he may listen to the words of Allaah, even after that if he is not convinced about the beauty of Islam, then reach him to his safe place to live in his way and no force is there to make him unwilling Muslim. This is because such people do not know (the truth)”
Now the sage people can understand that bringing any isolated verse or quotation from the Quran without looking at the context, is not the proper way to understanding or justification.
Under thcircumstances, I must say that, since Islam is for absolute peace its any strict regulation is not obsolete (needless) or free from reason. I must feel pleased with those who under any confusion, seek answer from knowledgeable of us. Thanks.