(14) “They will not fight you all together”—that is, when assembled—“except in fortified towns or from behind walls.” That is, they will not stand firm to fight you (1) or resolve to do so unless they are fortified within towns or stationed behind walls and ramparts.

Only then might they offer some resistance, relying upon their fortifications and walls rather than upon any courage of their own. This is among the severest forms of censure. “Their violence among themselves is severe.” That is, they are formidable among themselves. They suffer no deficiency in their bodies or physical strength; rather, their deficiency lies in the weakness of their faith and their failure to unite. Thus He says, “You think they are united,” when you see them gathered together and presenting a united front.

“‘And’ here means but: ‘their hearts are divided’”—that is, they harbor mutual hatred and are separated and scattered.

“That” which caused them to possess the qualities mentioned “is because they are a people who do not reason.” That is, they possess neither reason nor sound understanding. Had they ⦗853⦘ possessed reason, they would have preferred what is superior to what is inferior and would not have accepted the baser of the two courses for themselves. Their word would have been united and their hearts harmonious, so that they would support and reinforce one another and cooperate in securing their religious and worldly interests and benefits.

The plight of these forsaken People of the Scripture—against whom Allah granted His Messenger victory and whom He made taste disgrace in this worldly life, while those who had promised to assist them failed to support them—is “like that of those shortly before them.” Those were the disbelievers of Quraysh, whose deeds Satan made attractive to them, saying, “No one among mankind can overcome you today, and I am your protector. But when the two forces came within sight of one another, he turned on his heels [and said, ‘I am free of you; I see what you do not see.’]”—to the end of the verse.

They were deluded by their own selves and by those who deceived them, yet neither benefited them nor warded the punishment away from them. They came to Badr in pride and arrogance, thinking that they would attain their ambitions against the Messenger of Allah and the believers.

But Allah granted His Messenger and the believers victory over them. They slew their leaders and champions, took captive those whom they took captive, and those who fled, fled. Thus they tasted the evil consequences of their conduct and the outcome of their polytheism and aggression. That was in this world, while “for them” in the Hereafter is the punishment of the Fire.

These hypocrites who deceived their brothers among the People of the Scripture are “like Satan when he says to man, ‘Disbelieve.’” That is, he makes disbelief attractive and appealing to him and calls him to it. Then, when the man is deceived by him, disbelieves, and falls into misery, Satan—who had taken him as an ally and called him to what he did—does not benefit him. Instead, he disowns him and “says, ‘I am free of you. Indeed, I fear Allah, the Lord of all worlds.’” That is: I have no power to repel the punishment from you, nor can I avail you even an atom’s weight of good.