The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

c
though they did not achieve it,
a
See note to 
7: 51.
b
Another example of iltifat: God turns to address them.
c
To harm the Prophet.
The Qur
an
9: 64
122

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–– being spiteful was their only response to God and His Messenger
enriching them out of His bounty. They would be better o
ff turning
back [to God]: if they turn away, God will punish them in this world
and the Hereafter, and there will be no one on earth to protect or
help them.
75There are some among them who pledged themselves to God,
saying, ‘If God gives us some of His bounty, we shall certainly give
alms and be righteous,’
76yet when He did give them some of His
bounty, they became mean and turned obstinately away. 
77Because
they broke their promise to God, because of all the lies they told, He
made hypocrisy settle in their hearts until the Day they meet Him.
78Do they not realize that God knows their secrets and their private
discussions? That God knows all that is hidden? 
79It is they who
criticize the believers who give freely and those who can only give a
little with great e
ffort: they scoff at such people, but it is God who
sco
ffs at them–– a painful punishment awaits them. 80It makes no
di
fference [Prophet] whether you ask forgiveness for them or not:
God will not forgive them even if you ask seventy times, because
they reject God and His Messenger. God does not guide those who
rebel against Him.
81Those who were left behind were happy to stay behind when
God’s Messenger set out; they hated the thought of striving in God’s
way with their possessions and their persons. They said to one
another, ‘Do not go [to war] in this heat.’ Say, ‘Hell
fire is hotter.’ If
only they understood! 
82Let them laugh a little; they will weep a lot
in return for what they have done. 
83So [Prophet], if God brings you
back to a group of them, who ask you for permission to go out [to
battle], say, ‘You will never go out and 
fight an enemy with me: you
chose to sit at home the 
first time, so remain with those who stay
behind now.’
84Do not hold prayers for any of them if they die, and do not stand
by their graves: they disbelieved in God and His Messenger and died
rebellious. 
85Do not let their possessions and their children impress
you: God means to punish them through these in this world, and
that their souls should depart while they disbelieve. 
86When a sura is
revealed [saying], ‘Believe in God and strive hard alongside His
Messenger,’ their wealthy ask your permission [to be exempt], saying,
‘Allow us to stay behind with the others’:
87they prefer to be with
those who stay behind. Their hearts have been sealed: they do not
Repentance
123
9: 87

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comprehend.
88But the Messenger and those who believe with him
strive hard with their possessions and their persons. The best things
belong to them; it is they who will prosper. 
89God has prepared
Gardens graced with 
flowing streams for them and there they will
stay. That is the supreme triumph.
90Some of the desert Arabs, too, came to make excuses, asking to
be granted exemption. Those who lied to God and His Messenger
stayed behind at home. A painful punishment will a
fflict those of
them who disbelieved, 
91but there is no blame attached to the weak,
the sick, and those who have no means to spend, provided they are
true to God and His Messenger –
– there is no reason to reproach
those who do good: God is most forgiving and merciful. 
92And there
is no blame attached to those who came to you [Prophet] for riding
animals and to whom you said, ‘I cannot 
find a mount for you’: they
turned away with their eyes over
flowing with tears of grief that they
had nothing they could contribute. 
93The ones open to blame are
those who asked you for exemption despite their wealth, and who
preferred to be with those who stay behind. God has sealed their
hearts: they do not understand.
94When you return from the expedition they will carry on coming
to you [believers] with excuses. Say, ‘Do not make excuses. We do
not believe you: God has told us about you. God and His Messenger
will watch your actions now, and in the end you will be returned to
the One who knows the seen and the unseen. He will confront you
with what you have done.’
95When you return to them, they will
swear to you by God in order to make you leave them alone –
– so leave
them alone: they are loathsome, and Hell will be their home as a
reward for their actions –
–
96they will swear to you in order to make
you accept them, but even if you do accept them, God will not accept
people who rebel against Him.
97The desert Arabs are the most stubborn of all peoples in their
disbelief and hypocrisy. They are the least likely to recognize the
limits that God has sent down to His Messenger. God is all knowing
and all wise. 
98Some of the desert Arabs consider what they give to
be an imposition; they are waiting for fortune to turn against you,
but fortune will turn against them. God is all hearing and all know-
ing. 
99But there are also some desert Arabs who believe in God and
the Last Day and consider their contributions as bringing them
nearer to God and the prayers of the Messenger: they will indeed