﴿ ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَٰدِقِينَ ﴾

“they who, having themselves held back [from fighting, later] said of their [slain] brethren, "Had they but paid heed to us, they would not have been slain." Say: "Avert, then, death from yourselves, if what you say is true!"”

Those who said to their brothers while they themselves stayed put �Had they obeyed us they would not have been slain.� Say: �Then avert death from yourselves if you speak the truth.� Those who relied upon their lower selves-having been seduced by them to prefer their own whims-and then opposed those who gave themselves over to the decrees of divine fate said �If only they had heeded the warning about going out to the battle they would have been safe.� These thoughts are blameworthy and these hearts have retreated from witnessing the true nature of things. Say to them O Muḥammad �[Then] extend the life of your souls istadīmū lil-anfusikum al-ḥayāt and defend them from the attacks of death wa-idfaʿū ʿanhā hujūma al-wafāt.� How would they be able to do thatḍ How preposterous!