and said: 'What are you laughing about? And what are you saying?' They replied: 'We were only talking about what the riders talk about when they travel.'

Ammar said: 'We have known [what you said], may Allah—Exalted is He—inform the Messenger; you have been scorched [by the truth], may Allah curse you.' There was a man walking along with them who did not forbid them. They came to the Prophet (ﷺ) offering excuses, so Allah—Exalted is He—revealed: 'Make no excuse; you have disbelieved after your belief,' meaning: after your acknowledgment. 'If We pardon a faction of you, We will punish [another] faction.' It is hoped that the pardon from Allah—Exalted is He—applies to those who did not support them and did not forbid them.