At that occasion, the believers were put to a trial and were shaken with a violent convulsion.

And (remember) when the hypocrites and those having malady in their hearts were saying, "Allah and His messenger did not promise us but deceitfully;

and when a group of them said, "0 people of Yathrib (Madinah), there is no place for you to stay; so go back." And a group of them was seeking permission (to leave) from the prophet, saying, "In fact our homes are vulnerable," while they were not vulnerable; they wanted nothing but to escape.

And if it (Madinah) is entered (by the enemy, in their presence,) from all its sides and they are asked (to join) the mischief, they would readily commit it, and would not remain in them (their homes) but for a short while (2) (2). It means that although they are escaping from the battle - field on the pretext that their homes are not safe, yet if the forces of the enemy invite them to join the battle against Muslims, after their having entered the city from all sides, they would easily join them in their mischief against Muslims, and would no more remain in their homes. It shows that their pretext is sham.

despite that they had already made a covenant with Allah that they would not turn their backs; and a covenant with Allah has to be answered for.

(3) Say, "Flight will never be of any use to you, if you flee from death or killing, and even then you will not be let to enjoy (life) but for a little while." (3). That is, everyone who enters into a covenant with Allah, has to answer how he has fulfilled it.

Say, 'Who is there to protect you from Allah, if He intends evil to you, or (who is there to prevent Him) if He intends mercy for you?" And beside Allah, they will not find for themselves either a friend or a helper.

Allah does know the ones from among you who prevent (others from joining the battle) and those who say to their brothers, "Come along with us," and who do not come to the battle but for a little while,

(and that too) with a greed against you (i.e. to extract a share of spoils from you). But when fear comes, you will see them looking towards you, rolling their eyes, like the one who gets faint because of death. Then once fear is gone, they assail you with sharp tongues, in greed for the good (i.e. the wealth acquired as spopils).(4) These people did not accept faith (in real terms), therefore Allah has nullified their acts.(5) And all this is so easy for Allah. (4). This verse has unveiled cowardice of the hypocrites on the one hand, and their greed for wealth on the other. The sense is that they are so coward that when an attack from the enemy is apprehended, they are frightened like a person who becomes faint in fear of death. But when the enemy is driven away by the Muslims, and the spoils of war are distributed, they come forward assailing the Muslims with their sharp tongues and claiming that the victory is achieved with their help, and therefore they deserve a share in the spoils. (5). It means that virtuous acts deserve reward in the Hereafter only when they are accompanied by true faith in Allah, and since it has become evident that these hypocrites do not have true faith, even their virtuous acts will not be of any use to them in the Hereafter and will remain null and void.

They think that the coalition forces have not (yet) gone. And should the coalition forces come (again), they would like to be living in countryside among the Bedouins, asking (others) about your news. And even if they were to remain among you, they would not fight, but a little.