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 Since they have (pledged) Us obedience and to speak reasonably, it would be more proper for them, when it is decided (that everyone must take part in the battle), to remain true (in their pledge to God). 21 But if you held command, you were sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship! 22 Those [who do so] are the ones that Allah has cursed, so He deafened them and blinded their vision. 23 Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them? 24 Those who have reverted to disbelief after guidance has become manifest to them, have been seduced and given false hopes by satan. 25 That is because they say to those averse to what Allah has sent down 'We shall obey you in some of the matters' Allah knows their secrets. 26 Then how (will it be) when the angels will take their souls at death, smiting their faces and their backs? 27 That will be because they followed that which angereth Allah, and hated that which pleaseth Him. Therefor He hath made their actions vain. 28