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political islam 397of their prime examples was the theological discrepancy between thefollowing two verses:O you who believe! Fear God as He should be feared, and die notexcept in a state of Islam. ($l-#Imr§n 3:102)So fear God as much as you can; listen and obey and spend in charityfor the benefit of your own soul and those saved from the covetousnessof their own souls… ( Al-Tagh§bun 64:16)It confused the exegetes that 3:102 demands fear of God ‘as Heshould be feared’, that is, with an intensity that is equal to Him,whereas 64:16 only asks to fear God ‘as much as you can’, that is,with an intensity that humans are capable of even if that falls shortof how ‘He should be feared’. In order to solve the contradiction itwas suggested that 64:16 was abrogated by 3:102 since it did notcorrespond to the normative expectations of the fuqah§". The exegeteswere also confused by the fact that the Book apparently contradictsitself by calling for tolerance, nonviolence, and peaceful persuasionin some verses, such as:Let there be no compulsion in religion… ( Al-Baqara 2:256)Say, “The truth is from your Lord”: Let him who will believe, and lethim who will, reject (it)…” ( Al-Kahf 18:29)Invite (all) to the way of your Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching;and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: foryour Lord knows best, who have strayed from His path, and whoreceive guidance. ( Al-NaÈl 16:125)While in other verses, the Book seems to promote intolerance andlegitimate violence against other religions by an aggressive expansionisttheology, as for example in the so-called sword verses of Såratal-Tawba:O Prophet! Strive hard against the unbelievers and the hypocrites, andbe firm against them. Their abode is Hell—an evil refuge indeed.( Al-Tawba 9:73)Fight those who believe not in God, nor the Last Day, nor hold thatforbidden which has been forbidden by God and His Apostle, noracknowledge the religion of truth, (even if they are) of the people ofthe Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feelthemselves subdued. ( Al-Tawba 9:29)…then fight and slay the pagans wherever you find them, and seizethem, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (ofwar)… ( Al-Tawba 9:5)