13 Preface أَلا تُقاتِلونَ قَومًا نَكَثوا أَيمانَهُم وَهَمّوا بِإِخراجِ الرَّسولِ وَهُم بَدَءوكُم أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخشَونَهُم ۚ فَاللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخشَوهُ إِن كُنتُم مُؤمِنينَYusuf AliWill ye not fight people who violated their oaths, plotted to expel the Messenger,1 and took the aggressive by being the first (to assault) you? Do ye fear them? Nay, it is God Whom ye should more justly fear, if ye believe!The argument now takes a new turn. An appeal is made to the Muslims on various grounds: (1) the shameless disregard of treaties by the enemy, (2) the underhanded plots to discredit the Holy Prophet, and turn him out of Medīna as he had been turned out of Mecca, (3) the aggression taken by the Quraish and their confederates in Medīna after the treaty to Hudaybiyah (A. H. 6, Dhu al Qa'dah, Feb. 628), (4) the manly attitude that fears God rather than men, and (5) the need to prove our sincere faith by test and trial and struggle and sacrifice (9:16).