Ali Quli Qarai, The Qur’ān with a Phrase-by-Phrase English Translation (2005)
86 When you are greeted with a salute,
greet with a better one than it, or return it;
indeed Allah takes account of all things.
87 Allah — there is no god except Him —
will surely gather you on the Day of Resurrection,
in which there is no doubt;
and who is more truthful in speech than Allah?
88 Why should you be two groups concerning the hypocrites,1
while Allah has made them relapse
because of their deeds?
Do you desire to guide someone Allah has led astray?
Whomever Allah leads astray,
you will never find any way for him.
89 They are eager that you should disbelieve
like they have disbelieved,
so that you all become alike.
So do not make friends [with anyone] from among them,
until they migrate in the way of Allah.
But if they turn their backs, seize them and kill them
wherever you find them,
and do not take from among them friends or helpers,
90 excepting those who join a people
between whom and you there is a treaty,
or such as come to you
with hearts reluctant to fight you
or to fight their own people.
1 A reference to the hypocrites of Makkah who feigned sympathy for the Muslims while remaining in Makkah and continuing to work for their enemies.
