The Quran

لَو كانَ عَرَضًا قَريبًا وَسَفَرًا قاصِدًا لَاتَّبَعوكَ وَلٰكِن بَعُدَت عَلَيهِمُ الشُّقَّةُ ۚ وَسَيَحلِفونَ بِاللَّهِ لَوِ استَطَعنا لَخَرَجنا مَعَكُم يُهلِكونَ أَنفُسَهُم وَاللَّهُ يَعلَمُ إِنَّهُم لَكاذِبونَ

Muhammad Asad

Had there been [a prospect of] immediate gain, and an easy journey, they would certainly have followed thee, [O Prophet:] but the distance was too great for them.¹ And yet, [after your return, O believers,] they will swear by God, "Had we been able to do so, we would certainly have set out with you!" - [and by thus falsely swearing] they will be destroying their own selves: for God knows indeed that they are lying!

A reference to the unwillingness of some of the Muslims to follow the Prophet's call and to set out on the expedition to the frontier (see last paragraph of note 59 above). A strenuous march of about fourteen days was needed to reach Tabuk, the goal of this expedition; and the uncertainty of its outcome, as well as the hardships involved, gave rise to all manner of spurious excuses on the part of the half-hearted believers and hypocrites. As the next verse shows, the Prophet accepted these excuses in many cases, and allowed the men concerned to remain at Medina.