43 Preface عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُم حَتّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ الَّذينَ صَدَقوا وَتَعلَمَ الكاذِبينَYusuf AliGod give thee grace!1 why didst thou grant them until those who told the truth were seen by thee in a clear light, and thou hadst proved the liars?Literally, “God give thee forgiveness!” But there is no question of fault here, and Imām Razi understands the expression to mean an exclamation-as one might say in English, “God bless you!” In Shakespeare “God save you!” is a simple friendly greeting, without any question of danger: e.g., in “Much Ado about Nothing,” iii. 2. 82. Note that in 3:152, last clause, “forgiveness” is put in juxtaposition to “grace” as having closely allied meanings. What the Holy Prophet had done in the Tabuk expedition was that he had been granting exemptions which may appear from a military point of view too liberal. He was actuated by motives of kindness as well as policy-kindness, because, in the urgency of the moment he did not wish anyone who had a real excuse to be refused exemption; and policy, because, if any one did not come with hearty good will, he would be a burden instead of a help to the army. The policy was justified, because in fact 30,000 men or more followed him. But that did not in any way justify the slackers, and in a review of the position, the slackers and hypocrites are justly condemned.