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 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 But if you held command, you were sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship! 22 They are those who were condemned by God, whose ears were blocked by Him and their eyes blinded. 23 What, do they not ponder the Koran? Or is it that there are locks upon their hearts? 24 Verily those who have apostated on their backs after the guidance had become manifest unto them, the devil hath embellished this apostacy for them and hath given them false hopes. 25 That is because they said to those who were averse to what God sent down, 'We will obey you in some of the affair'; and God knows their secrets. 26 But how (will it be) when the angels take their souls at death, and smite their faces and their backs? 27 for their following that which had incurred God's anger, and their hatred to please God. Thus, God has made their deeds devoid of all virtue. 28