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 Were it to obey and say what is just, and when a matter is resolved on, it were best for them if they were true to Allah. 21 Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? 22 Such are those whom God has rejected, making their ears deaf and their eyes blind. 23 Will they not, then, ponder over this Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts? 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 This, because they said to those who hate what Allah has revealed, "We will obey you in part of (this) matter"; but Allah knows their (inner) secrets. 26 Then how (will it be with them) when the angels gather them, smiting their faces and their backs! 27 That is because they have followed what angers God, and have been averse to His good pleasure, so He has made their works to fail. 28