Had it been a near gain (booty in front of them) and an easy journey, they would have followed you, but the distance (Tabuk expedition) was long for them, and they would swear by Allah, "If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you." They destroy their ownselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.
Na lau ingeli kuwa ipo faida ya papo kwa papo, na safari yenyewe ni fupi, wangeli kufuata. Lakini wameona ni mbali na kuna mashaka. Nao wataapa kwa Mwenyezi Mungu: Tungeli weza bila ya shaka tungeli toka pamoja nanyi. Wanaziangamiza nafsi zao. Na Mwenyezi Mungu anajua kuwa hakika hao ni waongo.