“Were you afraid to offer charities before your private consultations? Since you did not do so, and Allah has pardoned you, then establish the prayer, give zakah, and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.” (13)

“Have you not considered those who have taken as allies a people with whom Allah is angry? They belong neither to you nor to them, and they knowingly swear to falsehood.” (14)

“Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment. Evil indeed is what they used to do.” (15)

“Were you afraid to offer”—Ibn Abbas said: “Were you miserly?” The meaning is: Did you fear poverty and need if you were to offer “charities before your private consultations? Since you did not do” what you had been commanded to do, “and Allah has pardoned you”—that is, He overlooked your failing and did not punish you for neglecting the charity. It was also said that the conjunction is merely connective, and that the intended meaning is: Since you did not do so, Allah pardoned you and abrogated the charity. Muqatil ibn Hayyan said: “This remained in effect for ten nights, after which it was abrogated.” (1) Al-Kalbi said: “It lasted only for an hour of the day.”

“Then establish the prayer”—the prescribed prayer—“and give zakah”—the obligatory zakah—“and obey Allah and His Messenger. Allah is All-Aware of what you do.”

“Have you not considered those who have taken as allies a people with whom Allah is angry?” This was revealed concerning the hypocrites, who took the Jews as allies, gave them sincere counsel, and conveyed the believers’ secrets to them. (2) By His words, “a people with whom Allah is angry,” He meant the Jews.

“They belong neither to you nor to them”—that is, the hypocrites are neither among the believers in religion and allegiance, nor among the Jews and disbelievers, as He says: “Wavering between them, belonging neither to these nor to those.” (4:143)

“And they knowingly swear to falsehood.” Al-Suddi and Muqatil said: This was revealed concerning Abdullah ibn Nabtal, the hypocrite. He would sit with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and then convey his words to the Jews. While the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was in one of his rooms, he said, “A man whose heart is the heart of a tyrant, and who looks with the eyes of a devil, will now enter upon you.” Then Abdullah ibn Nabtal entered; he was blue-eyed. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Why do you and your companions revile me?” He swore by Allah that he had not done so, then brought his companions, and they swore by Allah that they had not reviled him. So Allah revealed these verses: “And they knowingly swear to falsehood” ⦗157a⦘—that is, they know that they are liars. (3)

“Allah has prepared for them a severe punishment. Evil indeed is what they used to do.”

“They have taken their oaths as a shield, and so turned away from the way of Allah; therefore theirs will be a humiliating punishment.” (16)

“Neither their wealth nor their children will avail them against Allah in any way. They are the companions of the Fire, abiding therein forever.” (17)

“On the Day Allah resurrects them all, they will swear to Him as they swear to you, thinking that they have something to stand on. Indeed, it is they who are the liars.” (18)

“Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. They are the party of Satan. Indeed, the party of Satan are the losers.” (19)

“Indeed, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be among the most abased.” (20)

“Allah has decreed: ‘I will surely prevail, I and My messengers.’ Indeed, Allah is All-Strong, Almighty.” (21)

“They have taken their oaths”—their false oaths—“as a shield,” with which they protect themselves from being killed and defend their persons and wealth. “And so turned away from the way of Allah”—they turned the believers away