"Say: 'Do you await for us'"—meaning, are you waiting regarding us; that is, the hypocrites—"'except one of the two best things'"—either we triumph over the polytheists so we slay them and take their spoils, or we are killed and enter Paradise. "'While we await for you that Allah may afflict you with a punishment from His side'"—meaning, that He destroys you with it—"'or by our hands'"—that is, we extract what is in your hearts of hypocrisy until you manifest polytheism, so we slay you.
﴿قل هَل تربصون بِنَا﴾ تَنْتَظِرُونَ بِنَا؛ يَعْنِي: الْمُنَافِقِينَ ﴿إِلا إِحْدَى الحسنيين﴾ أَنْ نَظْهَرَ عَلَى الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَنَقْتُلَهُمْ ونغنمهم، أَو نقْتل (ل ١٢٨) فَنَدْخُلَ الْجَنَّةَ ﴿وَنَحْنُ نَتَرَبَّصُ بِكُمْ أَنْ يُصِيبَكُمُ اللَّهُ بعذابٍ مِنْ عِنْده﴾ يُهْلِكهُمْ بِهِ ﴿أَو بِأَيْدِينَا﴾ أَيْ: نَسْتَخْرِجُ مَا فِي قُلُوبِكُمْ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ؛ حَتَّى تُظْهِرُوا الشِّرْكَ فنقتلكم.
