"The bedouins who were left behind will say to you," meaning: the hypocrites who lagged behind from the jihad; in the interpretation of al-Hasan: "Our wealth and our families occupied us," we feared their ruin, and that is what prevented us from being with you in the jihad.

"They ask your forgiveness"—they say with their tongues what is not in their hearts—meaning: they offer excuses with falsehood. "Say, 'Then who could prevent Allah at all if He intended harm for you'"—that He should destroy you due to your hypocrisy and cast you into the Fire—"or intended benefit for you"—that He should have mercy upon you with faith which He grants as a favor to you? And He has informed His Prophet after this verse that He will not turn to them in forgiveness, in His saying: "Allah will never forgive them."