إِذ جاءوكُم مِن فَوقِكُم وَمِن أَسفَلَ مِنكُم وَإِذ زاغَتِ الأَبصارُ وَبَلَغَتِ القُلوبُ الحَناجِرَ وَتَظُنّونَ بِاللَّهِ الظُّنونا

When they advanced upon you from above and below, your vision blurred, your hearts reached the throats, and you began to doubt God.

هُنالِكَ ابتُلِيَ المُؤمِنونَ وَزُلزِلوا زِلزالًا شَديدًا

There, the believers were tested and severely shaken.

وَإِذ يَقولُ المُنافِقونَ وَالَّذينَ في قُلوبِهِم مَرَضٌ ما وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسولُهُ إِلّا غُرورًا

The hypocrites and those with diseased hearts said, “God and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions.”

وَإِذ قالَت طائِفَةٌ مِنهُم يا أَهلَ يَثرِبَ لا مُقامَ لَكُم فَارجِعوا ۚ وَيَستَأذِنُ فَريقٌ مِنهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقولونَ إِنَّ بُيوتَنا عَورَةٌ وَما هِيَ بِعَورَةٍ ۖ إِن يُريدونَ إِلّا فِرارًا

Among them, some said, “O people of Yathrib, you can’t withstand, so retreat.” Meanwhile, others sought permission from the Prophet, saying, “Our homes are exposed,” when they were not. They only intended to flee.

وَلَو دُخِلَت عَلَيهِم مِن أَقطارِها ثُمَّ سُئِلُوا الفِتنَةَ لَآتَوها وَما تَلَبَّثوا بِها إِلّا يَسيرًا

If they had been invaded from all sides, and they were incited to sedition, they would’ve indulged in it.

قُل لَن يَنفَعَكُمُ الفِرارُ إِن فَرَرتُم مِنَ المَوتِ أَوِ القَتلِ وَإِذًا لا تُمَتَّعونَ إِلّا قَليلًا

Say, “Fleeing won’t benefit you, if you flee from death or killing. Even then, you would be indulged only a little.”

قُل مَن ذَا الَّذي يَعصِمُكُم مِنَ اللَّهِ إِن أَرادَ بِكُم سوءًا أَو أَرادَ بِكُم رَحمَةً ۚ وَلا يَجِدونَ لَهُم مِن دونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلا نَصيرًا

Say, “Who can protect you from God if He intends harm or mercy for you?” They will find no ally or helper besides God.

قَد يَعلَمُ اللَّهُ المُعَوِّقينَ مِنكُم وَالقائِلينَ لِإِخوانِهِم هَلُمَّ إِلَينا ۖ وَلا يَأتونَ البَأسَ إِلّا قَليلًا

God knows those among you who discourage others and those who say to their brethren, “Come to us,” yet they seldom engage in battle.

أَشِحَّةً عَلَيكُم ۖ فَإِذا جاءَ الخَوفُ رَأَيتَهُم يَنظُرونَ إِلَيكَ تَدورُ أَعيُنُهُم كَالَّذي يُغشىٰ عَلَيهِ مِنَ المَوتِ ۖ فَإِذا ذَهَبَ الخَوفُ سَلَقوكُم بِأَلسِنَةٍ حِدادٍ أَشِحَّةً عَلَى الخَيرِ ۚ أُولـٰئِكَ لَم يُؤمِنوا فَأَحبَطَ اللَّهُ أَعمالَهُم ۚ وَكانَ ذٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّهِ يَسيرًا

They are reluctant to support you. When danger looms, you see them staring at you, their eyes rolling, as if they are on the verge of death. Yet, when the threat subsides, they lash you with sharp tongues, greedy for the good. These were never believers, so God nullified their deeds, a task effortless for God.

يَحسَبونَ الأَحزابَ لَم يَذهَبوا ۖ وَإِن يَأتِ الأَحزابُ يَوَدّوا لَو أَنَّهُم بادونَ فِي الأَعرابِ يَسأَلونَ عَن أَنبائِكُم ۖ وَلَو كانوا فيكُم ما قاتَلوا إِلّا قَليلًا

They assumed that the Confederates wouldn’t retreat. If the Confederates were to return, they would wish they were amongst the Bedouins in the desert, seeking news about you. If they were with you, they would hardly engage in battle.