The Holy Quran, tr. by Yusuf Ali, [1934], at sacred-texts.com
20. Wayaqoolu allatheena amanoo lawla nuzzilat sooratun fa-itha onzilat sooratun muhkamatun wathukira feeha alqitalu raayta allatheena fee quloobihim maradun yanthuroona ilayka nathara almaghshiyyi AAalayhi mina almawti faawla lahum
20. Those who believe say,
"Why is not a Sūra
Sent down (for us)?"
But when a Sūra
Of basic or categorical
Meaning is revealed,
And fighting is mentioned
Therein, thou wilt see those
In whose hearts is a disease
Looking at thee with a look
Of one in swoon at
The approach of death.
But more fitting for them—
21. TaAAatun waqawlun maAAroofun fa-itha AAazama al-amru falaw sadaqoo Allaha lakana khayran lahum
21. Were it to obey
And say what is just,
And when a matter
Is resolved on, it were
Best for them if they
Were true to God.
22. Fahal AAasaytum in tawallaytum an tufsidoo fee al-ardi watuqattiAAoo arhamakum
22. Then, is it
To be expected of you,
If ye were put in authority,
That ye will do mischief
In the land, and break
Your ties of kith and kin?
23. Ola-ika allatheena laAAanahumu Allahu faasammahum waaAAma absarahum
23.
24. Afala yatadabbaroona alqur-ana am AAala quloobin aqfaluha
24. Do they not then
Earnestly seek to understand
The Qur-ān, or are
Their hearts locked up
By them?
25. Inna allatheena irtaddoo AAala adbarihim min baAAdi ma tabayyana lahumu alhuda alshshaytanu sawwala lahum waamla lahum
25. Those who turn back
As apostates after Guidance
Was clearly shown to them,—
The Evil One has instigated
Them and buoyed them up
With false hopes.
26. Thalika bi-annahum qaloo lillatheena karihoo ma nazzala Allahu sanuteeAAukum fee baAAdi al-amri waAllahu yaAAlamu israrahum
26. This, because they said
To those who hate what
God has revealed, "We
Will obey you in part
Of (this) matter"; but God
Knows their (inner) secrets.
27. Fakayfa itha tawaffat-humu almala-ikatu yadriboona wujoohahum waadbarahum
27. But how (will it be)
When the angels take
Their souls at death,
And smite their faces
And their backs?
28. Thalika bi-annahumu ittabaAAoo ma askhata Allaha wakarihoo ridwanahu faahbata aAAmalahum
28. This because they followed
That which called forth
The Wrath of God, and
They hated God's good pleasure;
So He made their deeds
Of no effect.