فَإِذَا So when لَقِيتُمُ you meet ٱلَّذِينَ those who كَفَرُوا۟ disbelieve فَضَرْبَ then strike ٱلرِّقَابِ the necks حَتَّىٰٓ until إِذَآ when أَثْخَنتُمُوهُمْ you have subdued them فَشُدُّوا۟ then bind firmly ٱلْوَثَاقَ the bond فَإِمَّا then either مَنًّۢا a favor بَعْدُ afterwards وَإِمَّا or فِدَآءً ransom حَتَّىٰ until تَضَعَ lays down ٱلْحَرْبُ the war أَوْزَارَهَا ۚ its burdens ذَٰلِكَ That وَلَوْ And if يَشَآءُ Allah had willed ٱللَّهُ Allah had willed لَٱنتَصَرَ surely, He could have taken retribution مِنْهُمْ from them وَلَـٰكِن but لِّيَبْلُوَا۟ to test بَعْضَكُم some of you بِبَعْضٍۢ ۗ with others وَٱلَّذِينَ And those who قُتِلُوا۟ are killed فِى in سَبِيلِ (the) way of Allah ٱللَّهِ (the) way of Allah فَلَن then never يُضِلَّ He will cause to be lost أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ their deeds ٤
So when you meet those who disbelieve [in battle], strike [their] necks until, when you have inflicted slaughter upon them, then secure [their] bonds, and either [confer] favor afterwards or ransom [them] until the war lays down its burdens. That [is the command]. And if Allāh had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allāh - never will He waste their deeds.
— Come To Light