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.
وَلَقَد كانوا عاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِن قَبلُ لا يُوَلّونَ الأَدبارَ ۚ وَكانَ عَهدُ اللَّهِ مَسئولًا
They had previously made a covenant with God that they wouldn’t turn their backs. The covenant with God must be answered for.
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.
لَقَد كانَ لَكُم في رَسولِ اللَّهِ أُسوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَن كانَ يَرجُو اللَّهَ وَاليَومَ الآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثيرًا
In God’s Messenger, you have an excellent example for those who hope for God and the Last Day and remember God often.
وَلَمّا رَأَى المُؤمِنونَ الأَحزابَ قالوا هـٰذا ما وَعَدَنَا اللَّهُ وَرَسولُهُ وَصَدَقَ اللَّهُ وَرَسولُهُ ۚ وَما زادَهُم إِلّا إيمانًا وَتَسليمًا
Upon seeing the Confederate forces, the believers said, “This is what God and His Messenger promised us; truly, God and His Messenger spoke the truth.” It only increased them in faith and submission.
مِنَ المُؤمِنينَ رِجالٌ صَدَقوا ما عاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيهِ ۖ فَمِنهُم مَن قَضىٰ نَحبَهُ وَمِنهُم مَن يَنتَظِرُ ۖ وَما بَدَّلوا تَبديلًا
Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with God. Some of them have met their obligations, and some are still waiting, unwavering in their commitment.
لِيَجزِيَ اللَّهُ الصّادِقينَ بِصِدقِهِم وَيُعَذِّبَ المُنافِقينَ إِن شاءَ أَو يَتوبَ عَلَيهِم ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كانَ غَفورًا رَحيمًا
That God may reward the truthful for their truthfulness, and He may punish the hypocrites if He wills or accept their repentance. God is Forgiving, Most Merciful.