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 Yet obedience and honorable words (would be better for them). Then, when the matter is decided, if they were true to Allah it would be better for them. 21 Would you then, if you were given the authority, do mischief in the land, and sever your ties of kinship? 22 It is these whom Allah has cursed, so He made them deaf to the Truth 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 say to those who hate what Allah has revealed: We will obey you in some of the affairs; and Allah knows their secrets. 26 How shall it be, when the angels take them, beating their faces and their backs? 27 This because they followed that which called forth the Wrath of Allah, and they hated Allah's good pleasure; so He made their deeds of no effect. 28