لَو كانَ عَرَضًا قَريبًا وَسَفَرًا قاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعوكَ وَلـٰكِن بَعُدَت عَلَيهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحلِفونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ استَطَعنا لَخَرَجنا مَعَكُم يُهلِكونَ أَنفُسَهُم وَاللَّهُ يَعلَمُ إِنَّهُم لَكاذِبونَ

They would’ve followed you if there had been immediate gain and a short journey, but the distance seemed too great for them. They will swear by God, “If we could, we would’ve gone out with you.” They destroy themselves, and God knows that they are lying.

عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُم حَتّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذينَ صَدَقوا وَتَعلَمَ الكاذِبينَ

God would pardon you! Why did you give them leave before it became clear to you those who were truthful and you knew the liars?

لا يَستَأذِنُكَ الَّذينَ يُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ أَن يُجاهِدوا بِأَموالِهِم وَأَنفُسِهِم ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ بِالمُتَّقينَ

Those who genuinely believe in God and the Last Day wouldn’t seek exemption from striving with their wealth and their lives. God is fully aware of the righteous.

إِنَّما يَستَأذِنُكَ الَّذينَ لا يُؤمِنونَ بِاللَّهِ وَاليَومِ الآخِرِ وَارتابَت قُلوبُهُم فَهُم في رَيبِهِم يَتَرَدَّدونَ

Only those who don’t believe in God and the Last Day seek exemption from you. Their hearts are filled with doubt, and they waver in their indecision.

وَلَو أَرادُوا الخُروجَ لَأَعَدّوا لَهُ عُدَّةً وَلـٰكِن كَرِهَ اللَّهُ انبِعاثَهُم فَثَبَّطَهُم وَقيلَ اقعُدوا مَعَ القاعِدينَ

Had they intended to mobilize, they would’ve made some preparation for it. However, God disapproved of their departure, so He held them back, and they were told, “Stay with those who remain behind.”

لَقَدِ ابتَغَوُا الفِتنَةَ مِن قَبلُ وَقَلَّبوا لَكَ الأُمورَ حَتّىٰ جاءَ الحَقُّ وَظَهَرَ أَمرُ اللَّهِ وَهُم كارِهونَ

They sought dissension before and turned matters for you, until the truth emerged, and God’s decree prevailed, much to their dismay.

وَمِنهُم مَن يَقولُ ائذَن لي وَلا تَفتِنّي ۚ أَلا فِي الفِتنَةِ سَقَطوا ۗ وَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ لَمُحيطَةٌ بِالكافِرينَ

Among them are those who say, “Please excuse me, and don’t tempt me.” They have already fallen into temptation. Hell will engulf the unbelievers.

إِن تُصِبكَ حَسَنَةٌ تَسُؤهُم ۖ وَإِن تُصِبكَ مُصيبَةٌ يَقولوا قَد أَخَذنا أَمرَنا مِن قَبلُ وَيَتَوَلَّوا وَهُم فَرِحونَ

If good fortune comes your way, it troubles them, but if a calamity strikes you, they say, “We had taken our precautions in advance,” and they depart rejoicing.

قُل لَن يُصيبَنا إِلّا ما كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنا هُوَ مَولانا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَليَتَوَكَّلِ المُؤمِنونَ

Say, “Nothing will happen to us except what God has destined for us. He is our Protector. In God should the believers place their trust.”

قُل هَل تَرَبَّصونَ بِنا إِلّا إِحدَى الحُسنَيَينِ ۖ وَنَحنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُم أَن يُصيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بِعَذابٍ مِن عِندِهِ أَو بِأَيدينا ۖ فَتَرَبَّصوا إِنّا مَعَكُم مُتَرَبِّصونَ

Say, “You can anticipate for us one of two favorable outcomes, while we await for you either God’s punishment or defeat at our hands. So wait; we, too, are waiting.”