Marmaduke Pickthall, The Meaning of The Glorious Koran. An Explanatory Translation (1930)
sending unto them a messenger of their own who reciteth unto them His revelations, and causeth them to grow, and teacheth them the Scripture and wisdom;1 although before (he came to them) they were in flagrant error.
165. And was it so, when a disaster smote you, though ye had smitten (them with a disaster) twice (as great),2 that ye said: How is this? Say (unto them, O Muhammad): It is from yourselves. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.
166. That which befell you, on the day when the two armies met, was by permission of Allah; that He might know the true believers;
167. And that He might know the hypocrites, unto whom it was said: Come, fight in the way of Allah, or defend yourselves. They answered: If we knew aught of fighting we would follow you. On that day they were nearer disbelief than faith. They utter with their mouths a thing which is not in their hearts. Allah is best aware of what they hide.
168. Those who, while they sat at home, said of their brethren (who were fighting for the cause of Allah): If they had been guided by us they would not have been slain. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Then avert death from yourselves if ye are truthful.
169. Think not of those, who are slain in the way of Allah, as dead. Nay, they are living. With their Lord they have provision.
170. Jubilant (are they) because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those who have not joined them but are left behind: that there shall no fear come upon them neither shall they grieve.
171. They rejoice because of favour from Allah and kindness, and that Allah wasteth not the wage of the believers.
1 In fulfilment of the prayer of Abraham (Sûrah II, v. 129).
2 At Badr.
