J. F. Campbell Collection > Koran: or, Alcoran of Mohammed

ciur. IX. AL KORAN. 155
will ask leave of tliee to slay behind, wlio believe not in God and tlie last day,
and whose hearts doubt concerning the faith: wherefore they are tossed to
and fro in their doubting. If they had been willing to go forth with thee, th ey
had certainly prepared for that purpose a provision of arms and necessaries :
but God was averse to their going forth ; wherefore he rendered them sloth-
ful, and it was said unto them, Sit ye still with those who sit still.* If they
had gone forth with you, they had only been a burden unto you, and had
run to and fro between you, stirring you up to sedition ; and there would
have been some among you, who would have given ear unto them : and God
knowetli the wicked. They formerly sought to raise a sedition,* and they
disturbed thy affairs, until the truth came, and the decree of God was made
manifest ; although they were averse thereto. There is of them who saith
unto thee, Give me leave to stay behind, and expose me not to temptation."
Have they not fallen into temptation at home ? ^ * But hell will surely
encompass the unbelievers. If good happen unto thee, it gi'ieveth them ; but
if a misfortune befall thee, they say. We ordered our business before;^ and
they turn their backs, and rejoice at thy mishap. Say, ISTo thing shall befiiU
us, but what God hath decreed for us : he is our patron ; and on God let
the faithful trust. Say, Do ye expect any other should befall us, than one of
the two most excellent things ; either victory or martyrdom 1 But we ex-
pect concerning you, that God inflict a p\mishment on you, either from
himself, or by our hanrls.^ Wait, therefore, to see what will be the end of
both ; for we will wait for you. Say, Expend your money in pious uses,
either voluntarily, or by constraint, it shall not be accepted of you ; because
ye are wicked people. And nothing hindereth their contributions from
being accepted of them, but that they believe not in God and his apostle,
and perform not the duty q/" prayer, othei-wise than sluggishly; and expend
not their money for God's service, otherwise than unwillingly. Let not
therefore their riches, or their children cause thee to marvel. Verily God
intendeth only to punish them by these things in this world ; and that their
souls may depart while they are unbelievers. They swear by God that
they are of you ;* yet they are not of you, but are people who stand in
fear.'' If they find a place of refuge, or caves, or a retreating hole, they
• i. e. With the women and children, and other impotent people.
» As they did at the battle of Ohod.^
" By obliging me to go, against my will, on an expedition, the hardships of which
may tempt me to rebel or to desert. It is related that one Jadd Ebn Kais said that
the Ansars well knew he was much given to women, and he dared not trust himself
with the Greek girls; wherefore he desired he might be left beliiud, and he would
assist them with his purse.*
* Discovering their hypocrisy by their backwardness to go to war for the promotion
of the true religion. ,
* " Many of them have said, exempt us from war ; involve us not in dissension.
Were they not already fallen into it?" — Savary.
y That is, we took care to keep out of harm's way by staying at home.
' i. e. Either by some signal judgment from heaven, or by remitting their punish-
msnt to the true believers.
• Viz., staunch Moslems.
•> Hypocritically concealing their infidelity, lest ye should chastise them, as yo
» See chap. 3, p. 53. » Al Beidawi.