The modern Salafi reformist scholar, Muḥammad 'Abduh (d. 1323/1905), "notes that most commentators are agreed that it was revealed on the occasion of the military campaign in Tabuk, and this verse specifically deals with the People of the Book", and also that "the only kind of legitimate war on which there is unanimity among Muslim scholars is the defensive war when proclaimed by the Imām in the event of an attack upon Muslim territory".
The modern Salafi reformist scholar Muḥammad 'Abduh (d. 1323/1905) notes that most commentators agree it was revealed during the Tabuk military campaign, and this verse is specifically about the People of the Book. Additionally, he states that "the only legitimate war accepted by Muslim scholars is a defensive conflict issued by the Imam in response to an attack on Muslim territory."