from among the hypocrites who used to say to their brethren: 'Muhammad and his companions are but a morsel,' and 'If they were flesh, Abu Sufyan and his companions would have devoured them. Abandon this man, for he is doomed.' And those who say to their brethren—meaning the believers—'Come to us,' meaning, 'abandon Muhammad and his companions, for he is doomed and will be killed,' and they do not come to the battle except a little. He said: 'They do not attend the fighting except reluctantly, and if they do attend, their hands are with the Muslims, while their hearts are with the polytheists.' (1)

[His saying, the Exalted: 'They strike you']

17625 - From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding His saying: 'They strike you [with their tongues],' he said: 'They confront you.' (2)

17626 - From Qatadah (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding His saying: 'Then, when fear departs, they strike you with sharp tongues,' he said: 'As for when there is spoils of war, they are the stingiest of people and the worst at distributing. "Give us... give us... we have fought alongside you." But when it comes to the battle, they are the most cowardly of people and the most failing [in support] for the truth.' (3)

[His saying, the Exalted: 'Stingy toward the good']

17627 - From al-Suddi (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding His saying: 'Stingy toward the good,' he said: 'Toward wealth.' (4)

His saying, the Exalted: 'And that is ever easy for Allah'

17628 - From Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) regarding His saying: 'And that is ever easy for Allah,' meaning: 'simple.' (5)

His saying, the Exalted: 'They think the Confederates have not [yet] left... the verse'

17629 - From Mujahid (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding His saying: 'They think the Confederates have not [yet] left,' he said: 'They think them near, not having gone far.' (6)

17630 - From al-Suddi (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding His saying: 'They think the Confederates have not [yet] left,' he said: 'They used to talk about the coming of Abu Sufyan and his companions. They were only called the Confederates because they had confederated from the tribes of the Bedouins against the Prophet (peace be upon him).'