). contains passages that could be interpreted to endorse violence, According to Ibn Kathir: Tafsir Ibn Kathir says, "Therefore, the believers fight in obedience to Allah and to gain His pleasure, while the disbelievers fight in obedience to Shaytan. Allah then encourages the believers to fight His enemies". Islam allows war in self-defense (Quran 22:39), to defend Islam (rather than to spread it), to protect those who have been removed from their homes by force because they are Muslims (Quran 22:40), and to protect the innocent who are being oppressed (Quran 4:75). "Some Muslim thinkers in the past and some radical Muslims today . . . (say about Verse 4:76) . . . the so-called 'sword verses', have "abrogated" (revoked or annulled) the verses that permit warfare only in defense. They used these 'sword verses' to justify war against unbelievers as a tool of spreading Islam"."But the idea of a total and unrestricted conflict is completely unIslamic (as per other verses of the Quran)." 89–90 Kill them wherever you find them Muhammad advises his companions to avoid taking these individuals as helpers or guardians. Al-Awfi reported from Ibn Abbas, if they abandon Hijrah, As-Suddi said that this part of the Ayah means, "If they make their disbelief public take (hold of) them and kill them wherever you find them, and take neither Awliya nor helpers from them". However, Ibn Kathir clarifies that non-combatants, those who are neutral or hesitant about fighting and those who offer you peace are not to be fought against. 116 Shirk Tafsir Ibn Kathir says: "Shirk shall not be forgiven, in reality the idolators worship shaytan". 127–130 Female orphans, desertion by husband, and desirability of marital peace These verses cover issues associated with female orphans; desertion by the husband and the desirability of marital peace. 145 Hypocrites In Kitab al-Kafi, Ja'far al-Sadiq writes a letter to his companions stressing the importance of obeying Allah, his Messenger, and the "Wali al Amr" (Progeny of Muhammad)- going so far as to say that those who disobey and deny their virtues are "liars and hypocrites". He asserts that these are the individuals described as "hypocrites" in the verse, "Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire – and never will you find for them a helper." 157 Islamic view on Jesus' death An explanation of the Islamic view of Jesus as a prophet, rather than