Hashim Amir-Ali, The Message of the Qur’an: Presented in Perspective (1974)

36 Verily, the cycle of the months with Allah is one of twelve months; (transfixed) in the law of Allah since the day He made the heavens and the earth. Of these four are sacrosanct: that is a reckoning established.

Be ye not yourselves aggressive in them; But, fight the Pagans in all of them if they harass you in all (of them) But remember, Allah is with those who do restrain themselves.

37 It is the (intervening) Nasi which doth involve confusion — it helps to lead astray those inclined to perfidy. One year announce it they as “secular” another year as “sacred”; in order that they may conform to the pres- cribed number of the holy months. They sometimes make profane what Allah hath made holy! Appear to them as virtuous the evils of their ways. And Allah guideth not a group of infidels.

38 O ye who have believed! What ails you? When ye are asked to march forth in the way of Allah: stick ye fast to earth Do you find the transient present more alluring than the future? — As compared with that which is to come the comforts of the transient present are but few

39 Unless ye march forth He will punish you with severe punishment and He will replace you by another people to Him no harm you’ll do; Allah is Omnipotent.

40 What if ye help him not? Verily, Allah had helped him when he was driven out by the infidels, as one of only two. When they were in the cave he reassured his mate “Fear thou not! Indeed, Allah is with us!” And Allah cast His peace on them and aided them with hosts ye can imagine not. The forecasts of the infidels He humbled into dirt and raised on (penants) high the promises of Allah! Allah is the Sovereign and the Wise!

41 March ye forth ill- or well-equipped; and strive ye with your bodies and yourselves in the way of Allah! That is best — in your own interest if ye but understand

42 If there had been some gain in sight, or had it been an easy sojourn, they would, no doubt, have followed them. But the journey weigheth on them. Anon, they’ll swear by Allah: If only they could, they would, go out with you and offer (in your service) their very lives Allah knoweth well: they lie!