IslamQA seems to have multiple different people answering queries, who pick rulings according to any one of the different schools of thought and various scholars, often mentioning them solely as the "correct" answer without detailing any difference of opinions. As such there are contradictory verdicts from time to time, and also contradictory verdicts on the various translation sub-sites.
There is a difference of opinion among classical schools of thought on whether polytheist idolaters are to be forced to convert or not.
The criterion is Jizyah.
When there is war with a group, and they are overcome, and they are those from whom Jizyah is prescribed to be taken, then they are not forced to accept Islam but made to pay Jizyah ... this is what is established by Sunnah.
When the subdued are of those from whom Jizyah is not prescribed, then they are given a choice between Islam and death.
Jizyah is taken from Jews and Christians and they can not be forced to convert (9:29 and 2:256). It is also taken from Zoroastrians (magians) based on the sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Bukhari, Muwatta Malik).
There is a difference of opinion among the schools of thought on whether Jizyah is to be taken from mushrikeen (polytheist idolaters).
The view of the Shafi and Hanbali schools of thought is that Jizyah is not acceptable from them.
The view of the Maliki school of thought is that Jizyah is accepted from them.
The view of the Hanafi school of thought is is that Jizyah is accepted from them if they are non-Arab, but not if they are Arab.
IslamQA.info:
However, they differed concerning mushrikeen (polytheists) and idol
worshippers, and also differed concerning the categories of People of
the Book and Zoroastrians from whom jizyah may be accepted.
The majority of Shaafa‘i and Hanbali fuqaha’ are of the view that it
cannot be accepted from mushrikeen at all; nothing can be accepted
from them except their becoming Muslim or being fought.
The Hanafis and some of the Maalikis said: Jizyah may be accepted from
the mushrikeen, except the mushrikeen among the Arabs.
Al-Awzaa‘i – whose view is more likely to be correct according to the
Maaliki scholars – said: It may be accepted from all the disbelievers,
including the mushrikeen and idol worshippers, whether they are Arabs
or non-Arabs, and whether they are Qurashis or non-Qurashis.
This view is more likely to be correct. The evidence for that is the
hadith of Buraydah that was narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh (1731) {[ Mentions that Jizyah should be demanded from subdued Mushriqeen ]}
From Tafsir Al Qurtubi on 9:29
وقد ٱختلف العلماء فيمن تؤخذ منه الجزية؛ قال الشافعيّ رحمه الله: لا
تقبل الجزية إلا من أهل الكتاب خاصّةً، عرباً كانوا أو عجماً لهذه الآية؛
فإنهم هم الذين خُصّوا بالذكر فتوجّه الحكم إليهم دون من سواهم؛ لقوله عز
وجل: { فَٱقْتُلُواْ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ حَيْثُ وَجَدتُّمُوهُمْ } [التوبة:
5]. ولم يقل: حتى يعطوا الجزية كما قال في أهل الكتاب. وقال: وتقبل من
المَجُوس بالسُّنّة؛ وبه قال أحمد وأبو ثَوْر. وهو مذهب الثَّوريّ وأبي
حنيفة وأصحابه. وقال الأُوْزاعيّ: تؤخذ الجزية من كل عابد وَثَن أو نار
أو جاحدٍ أو مكذّب. وكذلك مذهب مالك؛ فإنه رأى أن الجزية تؤخذ من جميع
أجناس الشرك والجحد، عربياً أو عجمياً، تَغْلَبيّاً أو قرشياً، كائناً من
كان؛ إلا المرتدّ.
There is difference of opinion on whom Jizyah is imposed. Imam Shafi
said: Jizyah will not be accepted, except from the People of the Book,
whether they are arab or non-arab. This verse (9:29) was presented as
evidence, and these are the people who are specifically and seperately
mentioned, hence the command is limited to them and to the rest of
them, because Allah revealed 9:5 about them and did not mention Jizyah
as He did when mentioning the People of the Book.
And Imam Shafi said that Jizyah will be accepted from the Magians and
this is proven from the Sunnah. Similar was said by Imam Ahmad and Abu
Thawr, and this is the madhab of Thauri, Abu Hanifa and his
companions.
Imam Awzai said: idol worshippers, fire-worshippers, rejecters and deniers ...
from all of them Jizyah will be accepted. And the same is the madhab
of Imam Malik, because in his opinion from every type of shirk and
denial, Jizyah is taken, be they Arab, or non-Arab, Tughlabi or
Quraysh ... everyone except apostates.
Al-Hidayah fi Sharh Bidayat al-Mubtadi (Hanafi Position) :
Jizyah is imposed on the People of the Book and the Magians ...
And the non-Arab idol worshippers. Al Shafi disagrees with this. He says that fighting them is obligatory due to the words of the
Exalted, "And fight them on until there is no more persecution and
oppression, and the religion becomes Allah's. But if they cease, let
there be no hostility except to those who practice oppression" [ 2:193 ]
We have identified (he says) the permissibly of relinquishing fighting
in the case of the People of the Book through the Quran, and in case
of the Magians through the tradition, and those who remain besides
them are governed by the original rule. We argue that as enslaving
them is permitted, therefore imposition of Jizyah is also permitted
...
Jizyah is not imposed on Arab idol worshippers nor on apostates because their unbelief is of an extreme nature. As for the Arab
polytheists, the reason is that the Prophet grew up among them and the
Quran was sent in their language, therefore the miracle is clearly
manifest in their case. The apostate, on the other hand, has denied
his Lord, after he was guided to Islam and came to know of its merits.
> ...can be used to quote directly. I wouldn't expect a typical reader to read an entire webpage.