We would have an unusually high regard for the West’s commitment to Christianity, and their disciplined dedication to the destruction of our ‘Aqeedah if we really believe that their tolerance of Islam can’t be bought. While we see among our own people, particularly the rich and powerful, the ease with which they sell their religion for wealth and prestige, yet we seem to believe that the Kuffar would never “betray” their religious hatred for Islam in exchange for worldly gain.
Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, said:
“Lo! You are the ones who love them but they love you not, and you believe in all the Scriptures. And when they meet you, they say, “We believe.” But when they are alone, they bite their finger tips in rage against you. Say: “Perish in your rage. Certainly, Allah knows what is in the breasts (all the secrets).”
If you are paying attention, Allah is telling you that, yes, they are perfectly capable of controlling their hatred if it is in their interests to do so. Indeed, every treaty contracted by Rasulullah ï·º with the various mushrik Arab tribes, such as the Banu Damrah, Mudlij, Gifar and Juhainah tribes, were all dependent on this reality, and proved it.
If you take an ayah in isolation, unless it contains an explicit ruling, I guarantee you will misunderstand it.
For example, if you take the ayah:
“And they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able.”
And you do not understand it in context, you would think that the following ayah describes an impossible scenario:
“And if they incline to peace, then incline to it [also] and rely upon Allah. Indeed, it is He who is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
No, we know from the Seerah, and we know from history, and we know from our own personal lives, that they will usually compromise in their animosity when their material interests are at stake.
This is why the Quraysh amended the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah to allow Muslims to make hijrah to Madinah when their caravans were constantly attacked by Abu Basir and the People of Saif al-Bahar.
This is why the mushrik Arab tribes reached agreements with Rasulullah ï·º although they did not stop hating Islam.
We ourselves do not have an absolute commitment to our Deen, and most of us compromise our Islam in one way or another for worldly concerns; so what about the Kuffar, whose entire belief system centers around worldly concerns?