"They were pleased to be with those who remain behind," meaning: the women; according to the interpretation of the majority (al-'amma).
Muhammad says: The meaning according to this interpretation is: They were pleased to be, in their staying behind from Jihad, like the women. It has been said: indeed, al-khawalif is the plural of khalifa.
﴿رَضُوا بِأَنْ يَكُونُوا مَعَ الْخَوَالِفِ﴾ يَعْنِي: النِّسَاءَ؛ فِي تَفْسِيرِ الْعَامَّةِ.
قَالَ مُحَمَّدٌ: الْمَعْنَى عَلَى هَذَا التَّفْسِيرِ: رَضُوا بَأَنْ يَكُونُوا فِي تَخَلُّفِهِمْ عَنِ الْجِهَادِ كَالنِّسَاءِ وَقَدْ قِيلَ: إِنَّ الْخَوَالِفَ جَمْعُ خَالِفَةٍ.
