﴿ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ ٱلسَّيِّئَةَ ۚ نَحْنُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَصِفُونَ ﴾

“[But whatever they may say or do,] repel the evil [which they commit] with something that is bet­ter: We are fully aware of what they attribute [to Us].”

Ward off with that which is better that is to say with the better trait of pardoning and shunning them the evil act the hurt they cause you — this was revealed before the command to fight them. We know best what they allege what they invent of lies and what they say and so We will requite them for it.