“Salaqūkum” (“they assailed you”), meaning to raise one’s voice with hurtful words. From this comes sāliqa: a woman who raises her voice in lamentation over a calamity. One says salaqahu, with either sād or sīn, when someone addresses another harshly and forcefully. Some of the early generations recited it with sād, although this does not conform to the written text of the Quran.

An orator is described as mislāq when he is eloquent in his address. Here, however, this forcefulness is directed toward evil, not good, as Allah says:

“With sharp tongues, greedy for good things.”

This lashing out with sharp tongues takes various forms. Sometimes the hypocrites say to the believers: “What has befallen us is due to the ill fortune you bring! You are the ones who called people to this religion, fought for it, and opposed them.” Such were the words the hypocrites addressed to the believers among the Companions.

At other times they say: “You are the ones who advised us to remain here and hold firm at this frontier post until now. Had we left earlier instead, this would not have befallen us.”

Sometimes they say: “Despite your small numbers and weakness, you want to defeat the enemy! Your religion has deluded you.” As Allah Most High says:

“When the hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts said, ‘These people have been deluded by their religion.’ But whoever puts his trust in Allah—surely Allah is Almighty, All-Wise.”

At other times they say: “You are madmen, devoid of reason! You want to destroy