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.”

لَو خَرَجوا فيكُم ما زادوكُم إِلّا خَبالًا وَلَأَوضَعوا خِلالَكُم يَبغونَكُمُ الفِتنَةَ وَفيكُم سَمّاعونَ لَهُم ۗ وَاللَّهُ عَليمٌ بِالظّالِمينَ

Had they mobilized with you, they would’ve only added to your difficulties, spreading rumors and discord among you. Some of you are prone to listen to them. God is fully aware of the wrongdoers.

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.

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.”

قُل أَنفِقوا طَوعًا أَو كَرهًا لَن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُم ۖ إِنَّكُم كُنتُم قَومًا فاسِقينَ

Say, “Spend willingly or unwillingly, it won’t be accepted from you, for you are a wicked people.”

وَما مَنَعَهُم أَن تُقبَلَ مِنهُم نَفَقاتُهُم إِلّا أَنَّهُم كَفَروا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسولِهِ وَلا يَأتونَ الصَّلاةَ إِلّا وَهُم كُسالىٰ وَلا يُنفِقونَ إِلّا وَهُم كارِهونَ

Their contributions aren’t accepted because they reject God and His Messenger. Furthermore, they only attend prayer lazily, and they spend only grudgingly.

فَلا تُعجِبكَ أَموالُهُم وَلا أَولادُهُم ۚ إِنَّما يُريدُ اللَّهُ لِيُعَذِّبَهُم بِها فِي الحَياةِ الدُّنيا وَتَزهَقَ أَنفُسُهُم وَهُم كافِرونَ

Let not their wealth or their children impress you. God intends to torment them with them in this life, and their souls depart while they are unbelievers.