(73–74) “O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites, and be stern with them. Their refuge is Hell—what a wretched destination! * They swear by Allah that they said nothing, yet they certainly uttered the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their Islam. They plotted what they could not attain, and they resented nothing except that Allah and His Messenger enriched them from His bounty. If they repent, it will be better for them; but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter. They will have on earth neither protector nor helper.”
Allah Most High says to His Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace): “O Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites”—that is, exert yourself fully in striving against them and in dealing sternly with them whenever circumstances call for sternness.
This striving includes action by hand as well as argument through proof and speech. Those among them who openly wage war are to be opposed by action and speech—by the sword and clear exposition.
As for those who submit to Islamic authority under a covenant of protection or a treaty, they are to be challenged with evidence and demonstrative proof, and the merits of Islam and the evils of polytheism and disbelief are to be explained to them. This is how they are dealt with in this world.
As for the Hereafter, “their refuge is Hell”—their permanent abode, from which they will never depart—“and what a wretched destination!”
“They swear by Allah that they said nothing, yet they certainly uttered the word of disbelief.” That is, when they utter words such as those spoken by one of them—“The mightier will surely drive the lowlier out of it”—or other remarks uttered by one after another in mockery of the religion and the Messenger, then learn that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) has heard of it, they come to him swearing by Allah that they said nothing.
Allah Most High declared them liars, saying: “Yet they certainly uttered the word of disbelief and disbelieved after their Islam.” Their previous Islam—although outwardly it appeared to remove them from the sphere of disbelief—was nullified by their later words, which brought them into disbelief.
“They plotted what they could not attain.” This occurred when they plotted to assassinate the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) during the expedition to Tabūk. Allah informed him of their plot, and measures were ordered to thwart their aim.
Yet “they resented nothing” and found no fault with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) “except that Allah and His Messenger enriched them from His bounty,” after they had been poor and needy. This is among the most astonishing of things: that they should scorn the one who had been a means of bringing them out of darkness into light and of enriching them after poverty. What did they owe him but to honor him, believe in him, and revere him? Thus, both religious duty and human decency called them to do so.
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Then He offered them the opportunity to repent, saying: “If they repent, it will be better for them,” because repentance is the foundation of happiness in this world and the Hereafter.
“But if they turn away” from repentance and returning to Allah, “Allah will punish them with a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter”: in this world, through the anguish, distress, and sorrow that befall them because Allah supports His religion, grants honor to His Prophet, and prevents them from attaining their aim; and in the Hereafter, through the punishment of the blazing Fire.
“They will have no protector on earth” to take charge of their affairs and obtain what they desire, “nor any helper” to ward off what they fear. When they are cut off from the protection of Allah Most High, they face every kind of evil and loss, misery and deprivation.