Surah At-Tawba
Chapter 9 · Verse 45 · Revealed in Madinah
“Only those would ask permission of you who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts have doubted, and they, in their doubt, are hesitating.”
Translation: Saheeh International
Listen to recitation
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Reflection — Ibn Kathir
Moderately criticizing the Prophet for allowing the Hypocrites to stay behind
Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that `Awn said, "Have you heard criticism softer than this, starting with forgiveness before criticism,
عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ
Reflection — Maarif ul Quran
In the second (44) and third (45) verses given there was the difference between believers and hypocrites. Those who believe in Allah Ta` ala truly and staunchly do not pick an occasion like that only to seek desertion from Jihad just for the sake of love for their lives and wealth and go about asking the permission of their prophet to stay back. In fact, this is the behavior of only those who do not believe in Allah and the Day of Judgment (Akhirah), truly and correctly - and, as for Allah, He knows the God-fearing perfectly well.
What does this verse bring up for you today?