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 Obedience and good words. And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them. 21 Then, belike ye are, if ye turn, to cause corruption in the earth and to sever your kinship. 22 They are those who were condemned by God, whose ears were blocked by Him and their eyes blinded. 23 Do they not ponder on what the Qur'an says? Or have their hearts been sealed with locks? 24 Lo! those who turn back after the guidance hath been manifested unto them, Satan hath seduced them, and He giveth them the rein. 25 This was so because they said to those who disdain what God has revealed: "We shall obey you in some things." But God knows their secret intentions well. 26 But how (will it be) when the angels take their souls at death, and smite their faces and their backs? 27 That is because they followed that which angered Allah and detested His good-will; so He made their works of non-effect. 28