They swear by Allah that they said nothing, but they certainly spoke words of disbelief and rejected faith after their submission. They intended something they could not achieve. Their only grievance was that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them from His bounty. If they repent, it will be better for them. But if they turn away, Allah will punish them painfully in this world and the Hereafter, and they will have no protector or helper on earth.
So He caused hypocrisy to remain in their hearts until the Day they meet Him, because they broke what they had promised Allah and because they kept lying.
They criticize the believers who give charity willingly, as well as those who can find nothing to give except what they can manage through hard effort. They mock them, so Allah will repay their mockery, and they will have a painful punishment.
Whether you ask forgiveness for them or do not ask forgiveness for them, even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah will never forgive them. That is because they rejected Allah and His Messenger. Allah does not guide the defiantly disobedient people.
Those who stayed behind rejoiced in remaining behind Allah's Messenger. They hated to strive with their wealth and their lives in Allah's way, and they said, 'Do not go out in the heat.' Say, 'The Fire of Hell is far hotter,' if only they understood.
If Allah brings you back to a group of them and they ask your permission to go out, say, 'You will never go out with me, and you will never fight an enemy with me. You were content to stay behind the first time, so stay behind with those who remain.'
Do not let their wealth or children impress you. Allah only intends through them to punish them in this world and for their souls to depart while they reject faith.
Whenever a surah is sent down saying, 'Believe in Allah and strive alongside His Messenger,' those among them with means ask your permission and say, 'Leave us to be with those who stay behind.'
But the Messenger and those who believe with him strive with their wealth and their lives. For them are all good things, and it is they who are successful.
Some of the desert Arabs came making excuses so that they might be given permission, while those who lied to Allah and His Messenger stayed behind. A painful punishment will strike those among them who rejected faith.
There is no blame on the weak, the sick, or those who have nothing to spend, as long as they are sincere to Allah and His Messenger. There is no cause for blame against those who do good. Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
Nor is there blame on those who came to you asking for mounts, and you said, 'I cannot find anything to carry you on.' They turned away with their eyes overflowing with tears, grieving that they had nothing to spend.
Blame is only on those who ask your permission while they are well able. They are content to be with those who stay behind. Allah has sealed their hearts, so they do not know.
They will make excuses to you when you return to them. Say, 'Do not make excuses. We will not believe you. Allah has already informed us about you. Allah and His Messenger will see what you do, then you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the seen, and He will tell you what you used to do.'
They will swear by Allah to you when you return to them so that you will leave them alone. So leave them alone. They are impure, and their home is Hell as repayment for what they used to earn.
They swear to you so that you may be pleased with them. But even if you are pleased with them, Allah is not pleased with the defiantly disobedient people.