Allah admonishes those who lagged behind and did not join the Prophet for the battle of Tabuk, those who asked the Prophet for permission to remain behind, falsely pretending to have legitimate reasons to do so,

[لَوْ كَانَ عَرَضًا قَرِيبًا]

(Had it been a near gain), booty right in front of them, according to Ibn `Abbas,

[وَسَفَرًا قَاصِدًا]

(and an easy journey), travel for only a short distance,

[لاَّتَّبَعُوكَ]

(they would have followed you.) But,

[وَلَـكِن بَعُدَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ]

(the distance was long for them), to Ash-Sham,

[وَسَيَحْلِفُونَ بِاللَّهِ]

(and they would swear by Allah), when you return to them,

[لَوِ اسْتَطَعْنَا لَخَرَجْنَا مَعَكُمْ]

(If we only could, we would certainly have come forth with you), had not there been a valid excuse, we would have gone out with you,

[يُهْلِكُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـذِبُونَ]

(They destroy themselves, and Allah knows that they are liars.)

[عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّى يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَتَعْلَمَ الْكَـذِبِينَ - لاَ يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ أَن يُجَـهِدُواْ بِأَمْوَلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِالْمُتَّقِينَ - إِنَّمَا يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الاٌّخِرِ وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِى رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ ]

(43. May Allah forgive you. Why did you grant them leave, until those who told the truth were manifest to you, and you had known the liars) (44. Those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, would not ask your leave to be exempted from fighting with their properties and their lives; and Allah is the All-Knower of those who have Taqwa.) (45. It is only those who believe not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts are in doubt that ask your leave. So in their doubts they waver.)