Thus, when you meet those who disbelieved, strike their necks until you subdue them; then seize them as captives; then you may free them with or without ransom until the war lays down its burden. That is because if Allah had wished, surely He could have helped you against them, but it is to test some of you by means of others; those who are killed in the way of Allah, He will never let their deeds be lost.
This verse contains instructions connected with the Battle of Badr. When the encounter is ongoing with the enemies of Allah—the disbelievers—the believers are commanded to strike their necks to suppress them completely, and captives are to be held until the battle ends. After the battle, captives may be freed with or without ransom. If Allah had wished, He could have granted victory without battle, but mankind was deputed as vicegerents to undergo Trial through one another. See explanation 6: 164-165; 8: 60-61, 67-70; and 29: 2-330. Since today there is no group of believers or leader of believers anywhere in the world, the odd believer is commanded to do strenuous Jihad with Adhikr toward hypocrites who are hiding and repudiating the verses, and Kuffar who are rejecting the verses, as told in verses 9: 73; 25: 52; and 66: 9. When Antichrist-Maseeh Addajjal comes to erase Islam completely, the Arabic Qur’an Reading Fujjar will accept him as a Prophet at first and later even as Lord. Then Allah will send Jesus for the second time, and Antichrist and the Fujjar will be killed by implementing the Command of verses 4: 91; 5: 33; 9: 5, 123; and 33: 60-61. See explanation 40: 69-77.