Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:12

{Except for delusion} It is said that the one who said this was Mu‘attib ibn Qushayr. When he saw the Confederates (al-ahzab), he said: "Muhammad promises us the treasures of Persia and Byzantium, yet one of us cannot even go to relieve himself out of fear! This is nothing but a promise of delusion."

{A party of them} They are Aws ibn Qayzi and those who agreed with his opinion. According to al-Suddi, they are ‘Abd Allah ibn Ubayy and his companions.

{Yathrib} The name of the city. It is also said to be a land in which the city is situated in one of its parts.

{No place for you} Read with both the damma and fatha on the mim (muqam and maqam). It means: You have no stability here, nor a place to reside or stand.

{So return} To the city. They commanded them to flee from the camp of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). It is also said they told them: "Return as disbelievers and surrender Muhammad, otherwise Yathrib is no place for you."

{Exposed} (‘awrah) Read with both the sukun and kasra on the waw. ‘Awra means a flaw/gap; ‘awrah means "possessing a flaw." It is said: "The place became ‘awran" when a flaw appeared in it that made it vulnerable to enemies and thieves. It is also possible that ‘awrah is a contraction of ‘awirah. They used this as an excuse, claiming their houses were exposed to the enemy and vulnerable to thieves because they were neither fortified nor secured, so they sought his permission to fortify them and then return. Allah exposed their lie, for they did not fear that; they only desired to flee.

{And if it had been entered upon them} Meaning the city. It is also said: their houses, from the expression "I entered upon so-and-so in his house."

{From its sides} From its flanks. The meaning is: If these confederate armies—whom they flee from out of fear—had entered their city and their houses from all sides, and had descended upon their families and children, plundering and taking captives, and then they were asked at that moment of panic and trembling to commit {sedition}—that is, apostasy, returning to disbelief, and fighting the Muslims—they would have done it.

{And they would not have hesitated} They would not have delayed in granting it {except for a little}—only the time it takes for a question and answer, without pause. Or, they would not have remained in the city after their apostasy except for a short while, for Allah would have destroyed them.

The meaning is that they make excuses about their houses being exposed, fabricating reasons to flee from supporting the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and the believers, and from facing the Confederates who filled them with terror and dread. Yet, if these same Confederates had raided their land and homes and offered them disbelief, telling them to turn against the Muslims, they would have rushed to it without making any excuses. This is only because of their hatred for Islam, the intensity of their loathing for its people, their love for disbelief, and their desperate eagerness for its party.

{And they had already promised Allah before not to turn their backs. And ever is the promise to Allah [that about which one will be] questioned. Say, "Never will fleeing benefit you if you should flee from death or killing; and then [if you did], you would not be given enjoyment except for a little."}