God forgive thee!  Why didst thou give them leave to stay behind, ere they who make true excuses had become known to thee, and thou hadst known the liars?

They who believe in God and in the last day will not ask leave of thee to be exempt from contending with their substance and their persons.  But God knoweth those who fear Him!

They only will ask thy leave who believe not in God and the last day, and whose hearts are full of doubts, and who are tossed up and down in their doubtings.

Moreover, had they been desirous to take the field, they would have got ready for that purpose the munitions of war.20 But God was averse to their marching forth, and made them laggards; and it was said, “Sit ye at home with those who sit.”

Had they taken the field with you, they would only have added a burden to you, and have hurried about among you, stirring you up to sedition; and some there are among you who would have listened to them:  and God knoweth the evil doers.

Of old aimed they at sedition, and deranged thy affairs, until the truth arrived, and the behest of God became apparent, averse from it though they were.

Some of them say to thee, “Allow me to remain at home, and expose me not to the trial.”  Have they not fallen into a trial already?  But verily, Hell shall environ the Infidels!

If a success betide thee, it annoyeth them:  but if a reverse betide thee, they say, “We took our own measures before:”  and they turn their backs and are glad.

Say:  Nothing can befall us but what God hath destined21 for us.  Our liege-lord is He; and on God let the faithful trust!

Say:  Await ye for us, other than one of the two best things?22 But we await for you the infliction of a chastisement by God, from himself, or at our hands.  Wait ye then; we verily will wait with you.

Say:  Make ye your offerings willingly or by constraint; it cannot be accepted from you, because ye are a wicked people: 

And nothing hindreth the acceptance of their offerings, but that they believe not in God and His Apostle, and discharge not the duty of prayer but with sluggishness, and make not offerings but with reluctance.

Let not, therefore, their riches or their children amaze thee.  God is only minded to punish them by means of these, in this life present, and that their souls may depart while they are unbelievers.23

And they swear by God that they are indeed of you, yet they are not of you, but they are people who are afraid of you: 

If they find a place of refuge, or caves, or a hiding place, they assuredly turn towards it and haste thereto.

Some of them also defame thee in regard to the alms; yet if a part be given them, they are content, but if no part be given them, behold, they are angry!

Would that they were satisfied with that which God and His Apostle had given them, and would say “God sufficeth us!  God will vouchsafe unto us of His favour, and so will His Apostle:  verily unto God do we make our suit!”