The Quran

Preface

وَيَقولُ الَّذينَ آمَنوا لَولا نُزِّلَت سورَةٌ ۖ فَإِذا أُنزِلَت سورَةٌ مُحكَمَةٌ وَذُكِرَ فيهَا القِتالُ ۙ رَأَيتَ الَّذينَ في قُلوبِهِم مَرَضٌ يَنظُرونَ إِلَيكَ نَظَرَ المَغشِيِّ عَلَيهِ مِنَ المَوتِ ۖ فَأَولىٰ لَهُم

Yusuf Ali

Those who believe say,¹ “Why is not a sura sent down (for us)?” But when a sura of basic or categorical² meaning is revealed, and fighting is mentioned therein, thou wilt see those in whose hearts is a disease³ looking at thee with a look of one in swoon at the approach of death. But more fitting for them-

The men of faith and loyalty are eager and anxious to get a command to serve the Cause even if it be at the sacrifice of their lives. Not so the Hypocrites, “those in whose hearts is a disease”. They are mortally afraid as mentioned below.
Cf. 3:7, and n. 347. The defence of truth and righteousness at all sacrifice, when a definite and categorical command issues from Amir al Mu'minin is a fundamental condition of enlistment in the cause of God. It is true that Punishment and Judgment belong to God alone; but our mettle and fidelity have to be tested, (see verse 4 above), and God uses human agency in human affairs. (R).
Cf. 2:10. The disease is hypocrisy, disloyalty to the Cause, want of courage and of the spirit of self-sacrifice, want of true understanding.