Hadith on Jihad: The Prophet fought for freedom to practice Islam, not to be dictator over people

Jabir reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “I have been commanded to fight the people until they say there is no God but Allah, so when they say there is no God but Allah then their
lives and wealth are protected from me – except by right of justice – and their reckoning is with Allah.” Then he recited the verse, “Verily, you are only a reminder; you are not over them as a dictator.” (88:22)

[Sahih Muslim, Book 1, Number 32]

Ibn Rajab said, “The meaning is that your duty is only to remind them about Allah and to preach to them; you do not have authority to enter faith into their hearts by force and you are not responsible for that.”

[Jami’ Uloom wal-Hikam]

An-Nawawi said, “Al-Khattabi, may Allah have mercy on him, said: It is known that this tradition refers to the people of idols, not the people of the Book because they already say there is no God but Allah; the sword is not raised against them unless they fight.”

[Sharh Sahih Muslim]

عَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَقُولُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ فَإِذَا قَالُوا لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ عَصَمُوا مِنِّي دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ إِلَّا بِحَقِّهَا وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ إِنَّمَا أَنْتَ مُذَكِّرٌ لَسْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ بِمُصَيْطِرٍ

21 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإيمان باب الأمر بقتال الناس حتى يقولوا لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله

قال ابن رجب وَالْمَعْنَى إِنَّمَا عَلَيْكَ تَذْكِيرُهُمْ بِاللَّهِ وَدَعْوَتُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ وَلَسْتَ مُسَلَّطًا عَلَى إِدْخَالِ الْإِيمَانِ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ قَهْرًا وَلَا مُكَلَّفًا بِذَلِكَ

جامع العلوم والحكم الحديث الثامن أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يشهدوا أن لا إله إلا الله

قال النووي قَالَ الْخَطَّابِيُّ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ مَعْلُومٌ أَنَّ الْمُرَادَ بِهَذَا أَهْلُ الْأَوْثَانِ دُونَ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ لِأَنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ثُمَّ يُقَاتَلُونَ وَلَا يُرْفَعُ عَنْهُمُ السَّيْفُ

صحيح مسلم بشرح النووي كِتَاب الْإِيمَانِ أهل الردة كانوا صنفين