Surah Al Imran Tafseer

لِيَقْطَعَ طَرَفًا مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ

That He might cut off a part of those who disbelieve,

meaning, out of His wisdom, He commands you to perform Jihad and to fight.

Allah then mentions the various consequences of performing Jihad against the disbelievers. For instance, Allah said,

لِيَقْطَعَ طَرَفًا

(That He might cut off a part...),

meaning, to cause a part of a nation to perish.

مِّنَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَوْ يَكْبِتَهُمْ

of those who disbelieve, or expose them to infamy,

by disgracing them and forcing them to return with only their rage, having failed in their aim to harm you.

This is why Allah said next,

أَوْ يَكْبِتَهُمْ فَيَنقَلِبُواْ

or expose them to infamy, so that they retire,

to go back to their land,

خَأيِبِينَ

frustrated.

without achieving their aims.