for neglecting these obligations by claiming that they seek to avoid temptation, as Allah said concerning the hypocrites:

“Among them is one who says, ‘Give me leave and do not put me to temptation.’ Surely, they have fallen into temptation”—to the end of the verse.

Quranic commentary gives the following account of its revelation:

“Al-Jadd ibn Qays, when the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered him to prepare for a campaign against the Byzantines—and I believe he said, ‘Would you like the women of Banū al-Asfar?’—replied, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I am a man who cannot bear to be without women, and I fear being tempted by the women of Banū al-Asfar. So give me leave and do not put me to temptation.’”

This al-Jadd was the one who stayed away from the Pledge of Divine Pleasure beneath the tree and hid behind a red camel. The hadith concerning him states:

“All of them have been forgiven except the man with the red camel. Allah Most High then revealed concerning him: ‘Among them is one who says, “Give me leave and do not put me to temptation.” Surely, they have fallen into temptation.’”

The meaning is that he asked to stay behind to escape temptation by women, lest he become infatuated with them and then have to guard against what is forbidden and struggle against his own desires, suffering as a result—or else commit the forbidden act and incur sin. For when someone sees beautiful people and is attracted to them, but cannot attain them—either because the Lawgiver has forbidden it or because he is unable to do so—his heart is tormented. If, however, he can attain them and commits what is forbidden, he is ruined. Even in what is lawful, dealing with women entails trials.

This explains his words:

“Do not put me to temptation.”

Allah Most High said:

“Surely, they have fallen into temptation.”

The meaning is that his very turning away from obligatory jihad and shrinking from it, his weak faith, and the sickness of his heart that made abandoning jihad seem appealing to him constitute a grave trial into which he has already fallen.