Here are the three Stages of Jihad in Islam. Islamic sources and classical jurisprudence describe the spread and establishment of Islam as occurring in three distinct stages, each defined by the relative strength or weakness of the Muslim community and the corresponding rules for dealing with non-Muslims. These stages are derived from the chronological development of the Quran (early Meccan → late Meccan → Medinan) and the principle of naskh (abrogation), where later verses override earlier ones. Stage 1: No Retaliation / Peaceful Preaching (when Muslims are a weak minority) Period: Early Meccan phase (first ~13 years of prophethood). Instructions: No fighting permitted, endure persecution patiently, invite others with kindness and wisdom. Key verses: Quran 109:6 – “To you your religion, and to me mine.” Quran 73:10 – “And be patient over what they say and avoid them with gracious avoidance.” Quran 16:125 – “Invite to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best.” Quran 20:130 – “So be patient over what they say and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord…” This is the phase most often quoted in modern interfaith contexts and dawah when Muslims are still a small minority. Stage 2: Defensive Fighting (when Muslims have gained some strength but are not yet dominant) Period: After the Hijra to Medina, when the Muslim community has a base of power. Instructions: Fighting is permitted, then made obligatory, but framed as “defensive” (though the definition of aggression expands to include insults to Islam, refusal to accept Islam, etc.). Key verses: Quran 22:39–40 – “Permission [to fight] has been given to those who are being fought, because they were wronged…” Quran 2:191 – “And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you…” Quran 2:216 – “Fighting has been enjoined upon you while it is hateful to you…” This is the transitional phase where jihad becomes a religious duty once the community has sufficient power. Stage 3: Offensive Warfare / Total Dominance (when Muslims are strong and in control) Period: Later Medinan revelations and after the conquest of Mecca; considered the final and permanent ruling by classical scholars. Instructions: All limitations are removed. Non-Muslims must be fought until they submit, pay the jizyah (protection tax) while humbled, or are eliminated. Key verses: Quran 9:5 (the “Verse of the Sword”) – “And when the sacred months have passed, then kill the polytheists wherever you find them and capture them and besiege them and sit in wait for them at every place of ambush. But if they should repent, establish prayer, and give zakah, let them [go] on their way.” 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.” Quran 8:39 – “And fight them until there is no fitnah [disbelief/persecution] and [until] the religion, all of it, is for Allah.” Sahih Muslim 19:4294 (or 1731) – “I have been ordered to fight the people until they say ‘There is no god but Allah’…” Classical scholars of all four major Sunni schools of jurisprudence (Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, Hanbali) and most Shia scholars agree that offensive jihad to expand Islamic rule becomes a communal obligation (fard kifaya) once the Muslim state has sufficient strength. Summary of the three stages: Muslims weak → Stage 1: “No compulsion in religion,” peaceful coexistence. Muslims equal in strength → Stage 2: Defensive jihad (broadly defined). Muslims strong → Stage 3: Offensive jihad until Islam dominates or non-Muslims submit under dhimmi status.