The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

48: 20
Triumph 335
[people] may believe in God and His Messenger, support Him,
honour Him, and praise Him morning and evening.
10 Those who pledge loyalty to you [Prophet] are actually pledging
loyalty to God Himself – God’s hand is placed on theirs a ––and
anyone who breaks his pledge does so to his own detriment: God
will give a great reward to the one who fulfils his pledge to Him.
11 The desert Arabs who stayed behind will say to you, ‘We were
busy with our property and our families: ask forgiveness for us,’
but they say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say,
‘Whether it is God’s will to do you harm or good, who can intervene
for you?’ No! God is fully aware of everything you [people] do. 12 No!
You thought that the Messenger and the believers would never
return to their families and this thought warmed your hearts. Your
thoughts are evil, for you are corrupt people: 13 We have prepared a
blazing Fire for those who do not believe in God and His Messenger.
14 Control of the heavens and earth belongs to God and He forgives
whoever He will and punishes whoever He will: God is most forgiving
and merciful.
15 When you [believers] set off for somewhere that promises war
gains, those who [previously] stayed behind will say, ‘Let us come
with you.’ They want to change God’s words, but tell them
[Prophet], ‘You may not come with us: God has said this before.’
They will reply, ‘You begrudge us out of jealousy.’ How little they
understand!
16 Tell the desert Arabs who stayed behind, ‘You will be called to
face a people of great might in war and to fight them, unless they
surrender: if you obey, God will reward you well, but if you turn
away, as you have done before, He will punish you heavily – 17 the
blind, the lame, and the sick will not be blamed.’ God will admit
anyone who obeys Him and His Messenger to Gardens graced
with flowing streams; He will painfully punish anyone who turns
away.
18 God was pleased with the believers when they swore allegiance
to you [Prophet] under the tree: He knew what was in their hearts
and so He sent tranquillity down to them and rewarded them with a
speedy triumph 19 and with many future gains. God is mighty and
wise. 20 He has promised you [people] many future gains: He has
a Loyalty was pledged by everybody placing their right hands on top of the Prophet’s.