Surah Al Ahzab Tafseer

Another aspect of their abhorrent attribute of cowardice and fear:

Allah tells;

يَحْسَبُونَ الاَْحْزَابَ لَمْ يَذْهَبُوا

They think that the Confederates have not yet withdrawn;

and that they are still close by and will return.

وَإِن يَأْتِ الاْإَحْزَابُ يَوَدُّوا لَوْ أَنَّهُم بَادُونَ فِي الاْإَعْرَابِ يَسْأَلُونَ عَنْ أَنبَايِكُمْ

and if the Confederates should come, they would wish they were in the deserts among the Bedouins, seeking news about you;

means, `if the Confederates should come back, they hope that they will not be present with you in Al-Madinah, but that they will be in the desert, asking about news of you and what happened to you with your enemy.'

وَلَوْ كَانُوا فِيكُم مَّا قَاتَلُوا إِلاَّ قَلِيلً

and if they were to be among you, they would not fight but little. means,

`if they are among you, they will not fight alongside you very much,' because they are so cowardly and weak, and have so little faith, but Allah knows best about them