When did the Prophet (peace be upon him) command fighting?

Allah permitted fighting for Muslims after they were oppressed and threatened by Quraysh. The Prophet's (peace be upon him) early expeditions (saraya) were for exploration and reconnaissance. Then, the command to fight the polytheists was revealed in the second year of the Hijra, after the expedition of Abdullah ibn Jahsh in Rajab, when the verses were revealed: "And fight in the way of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, Allah does not like transgressors. And kill them wherever you overtake them and expel them from wherever they have expelled you."