but many of the Bedouins were reluctant to join him, stayed behind, and excused themselves on the grounds of being occupied. So Allah, exalted is He, revealed concerning them (1): “The Bedouins who lagged behind will say to you”—meaning, those whom Allah held back from accompanying you—when you return to them and reproach them for staying behind:

“Our wealth and our families kept us occupied,” meaning their women and children; that is, they had no one to leave in charge of them. “So ask forgiveness for us” for having stayed behind from you. But Allah declared their excuse to be false, saying:

“They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts,” concerning their request for forgiveness, for they did not care whether or not the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sought forgiveness for them.

“Say: ‘Who, then, can avail you anything against Allah, if He wills harm for you [evil] (2), or wills benefit for you?’” Hamzah and al-Kisa’i recited “harm” as ḍurran, with a u-vowel on the letter ḍād, while the others recited it with an a-vowel, because it is contrasted with benefit, and benefit is the opposite of harm. 129/b This is because they imagined that staying behind from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would ward off harm from them and hasten benefit for them by preserving their lives and wealth. He therefore informed them that, if He willed any of this for them, no one would be able to repel it. “Rather, Allah is fully aware of what you do.”

“Rather, you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families, and this was made fair-seeming in your hearts. You harbored an evil thought, and you were a ruined people. Whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger—We have prepared for the disbelievers a blazing Fire. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (12–14)

“Rather, you thought that the Messenger and the believers would never return to their families”: that is, you thought that the enemy would annihilate them, so that they would never return. “And this was made fair-seeming in your hearts”: Satan made this assumption seem appealing in your hearts. “You harbored an evil thought”: for they said, “Muhammad and his companions are but a mere mouthful; they will not return. So where are you going with him? Wait and see what becomes of them.” “And you were a ruined people”: doomed, incapable of any good.

“Whoever does not believe in Allah and His Messenger—We have prepared for the disbelievers a blazing Fire. To Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He forgives whom He wills and punishes whom He wills. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”