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 To obey and speak good; so when the manifest command came – it would have been better for them if they had remained faithful to Allah. 21 Could it be, that if you turn away, you might make corruption in the land and break the ties of kinship? 22 They are those who were condemned by God, whose ears were blocked by Him and their eyes blinded. 23 Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Nay, on the hearts there are locks. 24 Verily those who have apostated on their backs after the guidance had become manifest unto them, the devil hath embellished this apostacy for them and hath given them 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 But how will it be when the angels cause them to die smiting their backs. 27 This is because they followed the matter which displeases Allah, and they disliked what pleases Him – He therefore squandered away all their deeds. 28