Tell those who are bent on denying the truth that if they desist, all that is past shall be forgiven them; but if they revert [to their wrongdoing,] let them remember what happened to the like of them in times gone by. 38 Fight them until persecution is no more and the Religion of Allah reigns supreme. If they desist, Allah sees the things they do; 39 And if they turn away, then know that Allah is your Patron: Excellent Patron! and Excellent Helper! 40 ۞ And know that whatsoever ye obtain of spoils then verily unto Allah belongeth a fifth thereof and unto the apostle and unto his kindred and the orphans and the needy and the wayfarer, if ye indeed have believed in Allah and that which We sent down on Our bondman on the day of distinction, the day whereon the two hosts met. And Allah is over everything Potent. 41 When ye were on the near bank (of the valley) and they were on the yonder bank, and the caravan was below you (on the coast plain). And had ye trysted to meet one another ye surely would have failed to keep the tryst, but (it happened, as it did, without the forethought of either of you) that Allah might conclude a thing that must be done; that he who perished (on that day) might perish by a clear proof (of His Sovereignty) and he who survived might survive by a clear proof (of His Sovereignty). Lo! Allah in truth is Hearer, Knower. 42 God showed (the Makkans) to be few in your dream, for if He had shown them to be many you would surely have lost courage and disagreed about the (wisdom) of the battle. But God spared you this, for He surely knows what is in the hearts of men. 43 When at the time of your encounter He made them appear few in your eyes, and made you appear few in their eyes, it was so that God might bring about that which had been decreed. Everything returns to God. 44