Tafsir of Al-Ahzab 33:18

{The hinderers} Those who discourage others from following the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ); they are the hypocrites.

{Saying to their brethren} Those among the residents of Medina who were the Ansar of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): "Muhammad and his companions are nothing but a mouthful for a head (i.e., a small, easily consumed group). If they were meat, Abu Sufyan and his companions would have devoured them. So leave them alone and {come to us}," meaning: draw yourselves near to us.

Linguistic note: This is the dialect of the people of the Hijaz, who use it equally for the singular and the plural. The Tamim tribe, however, say: Halumma (singular male), Halummu (plural males). It is a sound used as a transitive verb, like "come" or "approach," as in: {Say, "Bring forward your witnesses"} (Al-An'am: 15).

{Except for a little} Meaning: they only come out with the believers to deceive them into thinking they are on their side. We do not see them engaging in duels or fighting except for a very small amount when they are forced to, as in the verse: {They do not fight except a little}.

{Stingy toward you} In times of war, they are miserly with your lives. They hover over you [in anxiety] just as a man does for one he is defending against an enemy when fear strikes.

{Looking at you} In that state, just as one who is fainting looks at you while struggling with the throes of death—out of fear, cowardice, and seeking refuge in you. But when the fear passes, the spoils are gathered, and the division occurs, they transfer that stinginess and hovering to greed for the wealth and spoils. They forget that initial state, become bold against you, and strike you with their tongues, saying: "Give us our share, for we witnessed the battle and fought alongside you. It was because of our presence that you defeated your enemy and were granted victory."

Grammatical note: "Stingy" (ashihhatan) is in the accusative case as a state (hal) or as a form of disparagement. It is also recited in the nominative (ashihhatu). "They strike you" (salaqukum) is also recited with a Sad (salaqukum).

If you ask: Does a hypocrite have any deeds that would be subject to "nullification" (ihbat)? I say: No. But Allah teaches those who might mistakenly think that faith by the tongue is true faith—even if the heart does not confirm it—and that the deeds of a hypocrite are of benefit to him. Thus, He clarifies that their faith is not true faith and that every deed proceeding from them is void. This serves as an exhortation for the accountable person to perfect the foundation of his affairs—which is correct faith—and a warning that many deeds without the correction of knowledge are like building upon no foundation; they are things that will become scattered dust before Allah.

If you ask: What is the meaning of His saying, {And that is easy for Allah}, when everything is easy for Him? I say: It means that their deeds are truly deserving of nullification; the causes for it are present, and there is no deterrent to prevent it.

{They think} That the Confederates (al-ahzab) have not retreated, even though they have already retreated from the Trench back to Medina due to the intense fear and excessive cowardice that entered their hearts.

{And if the Confederates should come} A second time, they wish—due to the fear they experienced—that they were out in the desert, living among the Bedouins.

{They would ask} Every traveler coming from the direction of Medina about your news and what has befallen you.

{And if they were among you} And had not returned to Medina, and there was fighting, they would not have fought except as a pretense, for show and reputation.

Linguistic note: It is recited as badi (meaning those who live in the desert). "They would ask" (yasa'alun) means they ask one another: "What did you hear? What reached you?"

{It was upon you} To console the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) with your own selves, to support him, and to stand firm with him, just as he consoled you with his own self through patience in Jihad and steadfastness on the battlefield, until his molar was broken on the day of Uhud and his face was wounded.

{There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent pattern for anyone whose hope is in Allah and the Last Day and [who] remembers Allah often.}