NOW THOSE who have attained to faith say: "Would that a revelation [allowing us to fight] was bestowed from on high!" But now that a revelation clear in and by itself, mentioning war, has been bestowed from on high, thou canst see those in whose hearts is disease looking at thee, [O Muhammad,] with the look of one who is about to faint for fear of death! And yet, far better for them would be 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 But if you held command, you were sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship! 22 It is such as these whom God rejects, and whom He makes deaf [to the voice of truth,] and whose eyes He blinds [to its sight]! 23 Will they not, then, ponder over this Qur'an? - or are there locks upon their hearts? 24 Those who turn their backs after the way of guidance has been opened to them, have been surely tempted by Satan and beguiled by illusory hopes. 25 This was so because they said to those who disdain what God has revealed: "We shall obey you in some things." But God knows their secret intentions well. 26 But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs. 27 This, because they were wont to pursue what God condemns and to hate [whatever would meet with] His goodly acceptance: and so He has caused all their [good] deeds to come to nought. 28