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 Obedience and good words. And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them. 21 Would ye then, if ye were given the command, work corruption in the land and sever your ties of kinship? 22 It is these upon whom Allah has laid His curse: so He made them deaf and deprived them of their sight. 23 Do they not ponder on what the Qur'an says? Or have their hearts been sealed with locks? 24 Those who have turned back in their traces after the guidance has become clear to them, Satan it was that tempted them, and God respited them. 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 How terrible it will be for them when the angels take away their souls by striking their faces and their backs. 27 Because they followed what displeases God, and they were averse to pleasing Him. So We nullified their deeds. 28