The believers used to say: “Why is a surah (that would ordain fighting) not revealed?” But when a definitive surah was revealed wherein fighting was mentioned, you saw that those in whose hearts there was a sickness looked at you as though they were about to faint at the approach of death. Pity on them! 20 Their obedience and speech are known. Then when the affair is determined, if even then they gave credence unto Allah, it would have been better for them. 21 Could it be, that if you turn away, you might make corruption in the land and break the ties of kinship? 22 Those are they whom God has cursed, and so made them deaf, and blinded their eyes. 23 Will they then not meditate on the Qur'an, or are there locks on the hearts? 24 Those who have reverted to disbelief after guidance has become manifest to them, have been seduced and given false hopes by satan. 25 This, because they said to those who are averse to the faith that Allah has revealed: “In some matters we shall obey you.” Allah has full knowledge of their secret parleys. 26 How then shall it be when the angels shall take them away at death smiting their faces and their backs! 27 That is because they followed that which angered Allah and detested His good-will; so He made their works of non-effect. 28