And when a surah was revealed [enjoining them] to believe in Allah and to fight with His Messenger, those of wealth among them asked your permission [to stay back] and said, "Leave us to be with them who sit [at home]."
اردو — مودودی
جب کبھی کوئی سورۃ اس مضمون کی نازل ہوئی کہ اللہ کو مانو اور اس کے رسول کے ساتھ جہاد کرو تو تم نے دیکھا کہ جو لوگ ان میں سے صاحب مقدرت تھے وہی تم سے درخواست کرنے لگے کہ انہیں جہاد کی شرکت سے معاف رکھا جائے اور انہوں نے کہا کہ ہمیں چھوڑ دیجیے کہ ہم بیٹھنے والوں کے ساتھ رہیں
Bahasa Indonesia — Kemenag
Dan apabila diturunkan suatu surat (yang memerintahkan kepada orang munafik itu): "Berimanlah kamu kepada Allah dan berjihadlah beserta Rasul-Nya", niscaya orang-orang yang sanggup di antara mereka meminta izin kepadamu (untuk tidak berjihad) dan mereka berkata: "Biarkanlah kami berada bersama orang-orang yang duduk".
Ibn Kathir
Admonishing Those Who did not join the Jihad
Allah chastises and admonishes those who stayed away from Jihad and refrained from performing it, even though they had the supplies, means and ability to join it. They asked the Messenger for permission to stay behind, saying,
ذَرْنَا نَكُنْ مَّعَ الْقَـعِدِينَ
("Leave us (behind), we would be with those who sit (at home)") thus accepting for themselves the shame of lagging behind with women, after the army had left. If war starts, such people are the most cowardice, but when it is safe, they are the most boastful among men. Allah described them in another Ayah,
فَإِذَا جَآءَ الْخَوْفُ رَأَيْتَهُمْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ تَدورُ أَعْيُنُهُمْ كَالَّذِى يُغْشَى عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ الْخَوْفُ سَلَقُوكُم بِأَلْسِنَةٍ حِدَادٍ
(Then when fear comes, you will see them looking to you, their eyes revolving like (those of) one over whom hovers death; but when the fear departs, they will smite you with sharp tongues.)33:19 their tongues direct their harsh words against you, when it is safe to do so. In battle, however, they are the most cowardice among men. Allah said in another Ayah,
وَيَقُولُ الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَوْلاَ نُزِّلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَإِذَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ مُّحْكَمَةٌ وَذُكِرَ فِيهَا الْقِتَالُ رَأَيْتَ الَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَيْكَ نَظَرَ الْمَغْشِىِّ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ فَأَوْلَى لَهُمْ - طَاعَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ الاٌّمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُواْ اللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْراً لَّهُمْ
(Those who believe say: "Why is not a Surah sent down (for us) But when a decisive Surah (explaining and ordering things) is sent down, and fighting is mentioned therein, you will see those in whose hearts is a disease looking at you with a look of one fainting to death. But it was better for them. Obedience (to Allah) and good words (were better for them). And when the matter is resolved on, then if they had been true to Allah, it would have been better for them.) 47:20-21 sAllah said next,
وَطُبِعَ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ
(Their hearts are sealed up) because of their staying away from Jihad and from accompanying the Messenger in Allah's cause,
فَهُمْ لاَ يَفْقَهُونَ
(so they understand not.) they neither understand what benefits them so that they perform it nor what hurts them so that they avoid it.
لَـكِنِ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ مَعَهُ جَـهَدُواْ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ لَهُمُ الْخَيْرَاتُ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ
المُيَسَّر
وإذا أنزلت سورة على محمد صلى الله عليه ولم تأمر بالإيمان بالله والإخلاص له والجهاد مع رسول الله، طلب الإذن منك -أيها الرسول- أولو اليسار من المنافقين، وقالوا: اتركنا مع القاعدين العاجزين عن الخروج.