Surah Al Baqarah 2: 217 Part 2

Surah Al Baqarah 2: 217 Part 2
Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter.
-Holy Quran

“They ask thee concerning fighting in the Prohibited Month. Say: "Fighting therein is a grave (offence); but graver is it in the sight of Allah to prevent access to the path of Allah, to deny Him, to prevent access to the Sacred Mosque, and drive out its members." Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter. Nor will they cease fighting you until they turn you back from your faith if they can. And if any of you Turn back from their faith and die in unbelief, their works will bear no fruit in this life and in the Hereafter; they will be companions of the Fire and will abide therein.”

Tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter
See also Surah Al Baqarah 2:191 and 193, where a similar phrase occurs.‪#‎Fitnah‬=trial, temptation, as in 2:102; or tumult, sedition, oppression, as here translate "persecution" in this passage, which is also legitimate, seeing that persecution is the suppression of some opinion by violence, force or threats.

"And slay them wherever ye catch them, and turn them out from where they have turned you out; for tumult and oppression are worse than slaughter; but fight them not at the Sacred Mosque, unless they (first) fight you there; but if they fight you, slay them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith."
[Surah Al Baqarah 2:191]

This passage is illustrated by the events that happened at Hudaybiyyah in the sixth year of the Hijrah, though it is not clear that it was revealed on that occasion. The Muslims were by this time a strong and influential community. Many of them were exiles from Makkah, where the pagans had established an intolerant autocracy, persecuting Muslims, preventing them from visiting their homes, and even keeping them out by force from performing the Pilgrimage during the universally recognized period of truce. This was intolerance oppression and autocracy to the last degree and the mere readiness of the Muslims to enforce their rights as Arab citizens resulted without bloodshed in an agreement which the Muslims frightfully observed. The Pagans, however, had no scruples in breaking faith, and it is unnecessary here to go into subsequent events.

In general, it maybe said that Islam is the religion of peace, good will, mutual understanding and good faith. But it will not acquiesce in wrongdoing, and its men will hold their lives cheap in defence of honour, justice and the religion which they hold sacred. Their ideal is that of heroic virtue combined with unselfish gentleness and tenderness, such as is exemplified in the life of the Prophet. They believe in courage, obedience, discipline, duty and a constant striving by all the means in their power, physical, moral, intellectual and spiritual for the establishment of Truth and Righteousness. They know that war is an evil, but they will not flinch from it if their honour demands it and a righteous Imam (such as Muhammad was par excellence)commands it, for then they know they are not serving carnal ends. In other cases, war has nothing to do with their faith, except that it will always be regulated by its humane precepts.

Suppress Faith: in the narrower as well as the larger sense. If they want forcibly to prevent you from exercising your sacred rites, they have declared war on your religion, and it would be cowardice to ignore the challenge or to fail in rooting out the tyranny.
"And fight them on until there is no more tumult or oppression, and there prevail justice and faith in ALLAH; But if they cease, let there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression. "
[Surah Al Baqarah 2:193]

Justice and Faith : The Arabic word is Din, which is comprehensive. It implies the ideas of indebtedness, duty, obedience, judgement, justice, faith, religion, customary rites, etc.,. The clause means: " until there is Din for ALLAH".

If the opposite party ceases, to persecute you, your hostility ends with them as a party, but it does not mean that you become friends to oppression. Your fight is against wrong; there should be no rancour against men.