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 To obey and speak good; so when the manifest command came – it would have been better for them if they had remained faithful to Allah. 21 Then if you turn away, you are likely to spread corruption on the earth and sever your ties of kinship. 22 Those are they whom Allah hath cursed, and then hath deafened them and blinded their sights. 23 Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them? 24 Certainly those who have turned their backs on the True Guidance after it became manifest to them, Satan has embellished their ways for them and has buoyed them up with false hopes. 25 [they do turn their backs on it] inasmuch as they are wont to say unto those who abhor all that God has revealed, "We will comply with your views on some points." But God knows their secret thoughts: 26 So how (dreadful) will it be when the angels remove their souls, striking at their faces and 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