Tafsir of At-Tawbah 9:48

"They had already sought sedition" (i.e., the dispersion of your unity and the scattering of your companions) "from before" (i.e., before this expedition). This is as was narrated from al-Hasan regarding the Day of Uhud, when 'Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul withdrew with his hypocritical companions, just as they held back from this expedition as well, after having gone out with the Prophet—may Allah the Exalted bless him—up to near Thaniyat al-Wada'. It was narrated from Sa'id ibn Jubayr and Ibn Jurayj that what is meant by "sedition" is the attempt to assassinate the Messenger of Allah—may Allah the Exalted bless him—on the night of al-'Aqabah. This is because twelve men from the hypocrites gathered and stood at the mountain pass to assassinate him—upon him be prayer and peace—but Allah the Exalted turned them back, disgraced.

"And they turned over affairs for you" (i.e., plots; the "turning over" is a metaphor for devising them, or it refers to opinions, and it is a metaphor for examining them). This means they devised plots and stratagems for you, or they went over opinions on how to nullify your cause. It was also read as "wa qallabu" (with a light lam).

"Until the truth came" (i.e., the victory and triumph which Allah the Exalted promised), "and the command of Allah appeared" (i.e., His religion prevailed and His law was exalted, glorified is He), "while they were hateful" (i.e., in a state of hating that, meaning despite them).

The bringing of this [revelation] was, as they stated, to console the Messenger of Allah—may Allah the Exalted bless him—and the believers regarding those who stayed behind, and to clarify the reason for which Allah the Exalted caused them to lag behind, to tear down their veils, and to remove their excuses. This was done as a remedy for what might have been lost by the haste in granting permission [to stay behind], and as an indication that what was lost through that [permission] is not something that cannot be recovered, so as not to exaggerate the gravity of the matter.