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 Their obedience and speech are known. Then when the affair is determined, if even then they gave credence unto Allah, it would have been better for them. 21 If you ignore the commands of God would you then also spread evil in the land and sever the ties of kinship? 22 Those it is whom Allah has cursed so He has made them deaf and blinded their eyes. 23 Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are their hearts locked up by them? 24 Those who turn their backs after the way of guidance has been opened to them, have been surely tempted by Satan and beguiled by illusory hopes. 25 That is because they said unto those who detest that which Allah hath revealed: we shall obey you in part of the affair; and Allah knoweth their talking in secret. 26 So how (dreadful) will it be when the angels remove their souls, striking at their faces and their backs! 27 That is because they followed that which angered Allah, and hated that which pleased Him. So He made their deeds fruitless. 28