Thus He described those who discourage others from jihad as belonging to two groups: those who are in the fighters’ town and those who are elsewhere. If they are there, they hinder them from jihad through words, deeds, or both. If they are elsewhere, they send messages or letters urging the fighters to leave their town and join them in fortresses or far away. This is what happened in this campaign: some people in the army, Medina, and elsewhere began hindering those who wished to fight, while others were sent from strongholds, fortresses, and elsewhere to their brothers with the message, “Come to us.” Allah Most High said of them:
“They seldom join the fighting, being miserly toward you.”
That is, they are unwilling to fight alongside you or spend in Allah’s cause. Mujāhid said: “They begrudge you good fortune, victory, and spoils.”
Such is the condition of those who withhold their own service and wealth from the believers, or begrudge them Allah’s bounty—the victory and provision He brings about through the actions of others. Some people are stingy with their own kindness, while others begrudge Allah’s kindness and bounty. These are the envious.
Then Allah Most High said:
“But when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes rolling like someone fainting in the throes of death.”
So intense is the terror in their hearts that they resemble someone losing consciousness at the moment of death: he is afraid, his mind is bewildered, and his eyes stare fixedly without blinking. These people are just the same, because they fear being killed.
“But when fear has passed, they lash you with sharp tongues.”
In Arabic usage, one also says: