Translation:
Those who believe say,(4843) "Why is not a sura sent down (for us)?" But when a sura of basic or categorical 4844 meaning is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, you wilt seest those in whose hearts is a disease 4845 looking at you with a look of one in swoon at the approach of death. But more fitting for them4843 The men of faith and loyalty are eager and anxious to get a command to serve the Cause even if it be at the sacrifice of their lives. Not so the Hypocrites, "those in whose hearts is a disease". They are mortally afraid as mentioned below.
Those who believe say,(4843) "Why is not a sura sent down (for us)?" But when a sura of basic or categorical 4844 meaning is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, you wilt seest those in whose hearts is a disease 4845 looking at you with a look of one in swoon at the approach of death. But more fitting for them4843 The men of faith and loyalty are eager and anxious to get a command to serve the Cause even if it be at the sacrifice of their lives. Not so the Hypocrites, "those in whose hearts is a disease". They are mortally afraid as mentioned below.
Translation:
NOW THOSE who have attained to faith say, “Would that a revelation [allowing us to fight] was bestowed from on high!” 25 But now that a revelation clear in and by itself, 26 mentioning war, has been bestowed from on high, thou canst see those in whose hearts is disease looking at thee, [O Muhammad,] with the look of one who is about to faint for fear of death! And yet, far better for them would be
NOW THOSE who have attained to faith say, “Would that a revelation [allowing us to fight] was bestowed from on high!” 25 But now that a revelation clear in and by itself, 26 mentioning war, has been bestowed from on high, thou canst see those in whose hearts is disease looking at thee, [O Muhammad,] with the look of one who is about to faint for fear of death! And yet, far better for them would be
Commentary:
25 I am rendering the term surah here and in the next sentence as "a revelation", for whereas there is no surah as such which deals exclusively with questions of war, there are numerous references to it in various surahs; and this is evidently the meaning of this term in the present context as well as in 9:86. There is no doubt that this verse precedes the revelation, in the year 1 H., of 22:39, which states categorically - and for the first time - that the believers are allowed to wage war whenever "war is wrongfully waged" against them (see in this connection note 57 on 22:39).
26 This is a reference to 22:39-40. For an explanation of the expression muhkamah ("clear in and by itself"), see note 5 on 3:7. (As in the preceding sentence, the term surah has been rendered here, exceptionally, as "revelation".)
25 I am rendering the term surah here and in the next sentence as "a revelation", for whereas there is no surah as such which deals exclusively with questions of war, there are numerous references to it in various surahs; and this is evidently the meaning of this term in the present context as well as in 9:86. There is no doubt that this verse precedes the revelation, in the year 1 H., of 22:39, which states categorically - and for the first time - that the believers are allowed to wage war whenever "war is wrongfully waged" against them (see in this connection note 57 on 22:39).
26 This is a reference to 22:39-40. For an explanation of the expression muhkamah ("clear in and by itself"), see note 5 on 3:7. (As in the preceding sentence, the term surah has been rendered here, exceptionally, as "revelation".)
4844 Cf. 3:7, and n. 347. The defence of truth and righteousness at all sacrifice, when a definite and categorical command issues from Amir al Mu'minin is a fundamental condition of enlistment in the cause of Allah. It is true that Punishment and Judgement belong to Allah alone; but our mettle and fidelity have to be tested, (see verse 4 above), and Allah uses human agency in human affairs. (R).
4845 Cf. 2:10 . The disease is hypocrisy, disloyalty to the Cause, want of courage and of the spirit of self-sacrifice, want of true understanding.