(49) “Among them is one who says, ‘Grant me leave, and do not expose me to temptation.’ Yet surely they have fallen into temptation. Indeed, Hell will surely encompass the disbelievers.”

That is, among these hypocrites is one who seeks permission to remain behind and offers another astonishing excuse, saying: “Grant me leave” to remain behind, “and do not expose me to temptation” by making me go forth. For if I go forth and see the Roman women, I will be unable to resist them—as al-Jadd ibn Qays said.

His purpose—may Allah disgrace him—was ostentation and hypocrisy: he pretended that his aim was commendable, claiming, “Going forth would expose me to temptation and evil, whereas remaining behind would keep me safe and away from evil.”

Allah Most High exposed the falsity of this claim, saying: “Yet surely they have fallen into temptation.” Even supposing that this speaker was truthful about his intention, [then] remaining behind entails a far greater evil and a grave, certain temptation: disobeying Allah and His Messenger, daring to commit a grievous sin, and bearing an immense burden of guilt. Going forth, by contrast, would entail only slight harm compared with remaining behind, and that harm was merely imagined. In reality, this man intended nothing but to remain behind. Allah therefore threatened them, saying: “Indeed, Hell will surely encompass the disbelievers.” They will have no flight from it, no escape, no release, and no deliverance.