If the enemy had entered from all sides and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would have committed it, and would have hesitated thereupon but little.
And if an entry were made upon them from the outlying parts of it, then they were asked to wage war, they would certainly have done it, and they would not have stayed in it but a little while.
And if an entry had been effected to them from the sides of the (city), and they had been incited to sedition, they would certainly have brought it to pass, with none but a brief delay!
And if an entry had been effected to them from the sides of the (city), and they had been incited to sedition, they would certainly have brought it to pass, with none but a brief delay!
And if entry was forced against them from all areas and, again, they were asked to dissent, they would have given into it and they would not have but briefly hesitated
If a raid had been made on them from [all] its quarters, then they had been asked to rise up in dissension, they would have done so and yet not lasted very long.
And had the situation been reversed and the forces laid siege on the city and moved into it upon possession and they -the hypocrites- were incited to turn renegades and fight to their -the enemy's side- against the Muslims they would have done it before long. (these were the men* who were forgiven and had promised never to behave this way again).
And if they were to be entered upon from the sides thereof and they were asked to sedition, they would surely have committed it, and they would have tarried therein but slightly.
Now if they (and their houses) had been invaded from all sides (of the city) and they had been asked to betray (their faith), they would certainly have done so with but little hesitation.
And if the enemy had entered upon them from the outlying parts of it, and they had been exhorted to treachery, they would certainly have done it, and they would have hesitated but little.
And if (the city) had been entered upon them from its (adjacent) regions, and thereafter they had been asked sedition, (Literally: temptation; i.e, if the hypocrites had been asked to apostatize from Islam) indeed they would have brought it forth and in no way would they have kept lingering in it except a little while. (Literally: an easy (while)
And if it (Madinah) is entered (by the enemy, in their presence,) from all its sides and they are asked (to join) the mischief, they would readily commit it, and would not remain in them (their homes) but for a short while
Now if the enemy had invaded the town from all sides and these hypocrites were asked to inflict harm on the believers, they would have done so without delay.
And if an attack had come upon them from the (sides of the city), and they had been asked to rebel, certainly, they would have quickly made it true, with only a little delay.
And if they had been entered upon from all its [surrounding] regions and fitnah had been demanded of them, they would have done it and not hesitated over it except briefly.
And if the armies had entered upon them from all the sides of Medina, and they (the hypocrites) had been asked pertaining to the subversion (of disbelief and polytheism), they would have accepted (the demand), and would not have delayed it except for a short while.
Dr. Kamal Omar
And if the enemy was made to penetrate them from environs of that (city-area), and they had been incited to Al-Fitnah (disruption and treachery) they would have committed it, and would not have hesitated for it except a minority .
And if an entry had been made for them from the sides of the city, and they had been incited to sedition, they would certainly have brought it to pass, with only a brief delay.
If the enemy were to enter the town from various directions, and they were summoned to act treacherously, they would have succumbed to it and would have shown little reluctance in doing so.
Controversial, deprecated, or status undetermined works
If the enemies had conquered the city and had asked them for any kind of treachery [such as providing vital information about whereupon of the believers], they would have easily committed it without any hesitation.
Faridul Haque
And if the armies had come upon them from the outskirts of Medinah and demanded disbelief from them, they would certainly have given them their demand and would not have hesitated in it except a little.
Hasan Al-Fatih Qaribullah
And if an entrance had been forced against them from its quarters, and then they had been asked to incite, they would have done so, and remained in it (the city) but a little (time).
And they had indeed made a covenant with Allah before, (that) they would not turn (their) backs. And a covenant with Allah must be answered for.
Muhammad Ahmed - Samira
And if (it) is entered on them from its sides/directions then they were asked (for) the treason , they would have given it (E) and they would not have delayed/remained with it (the treason) except little .
If the enemy were to enter the Town from its environs, and then they were asked to join in the disturbance against the Muslims, they would certainly have done so, and would not have tarried in their houses save a little.
Had the enemy invaded and asked them to join, they would have joined the enemy without hesitation.
Ahmed Raza Khan (Barelvi)
And if the armies had come upon them from the outskirts of Medinah and demanded disbelief from them, they would certainly have given them their demand and would not have hesitated in it except a little.
And if entry (of the enemy-forces) were effected (in the town of Madinah) against them from its diverse quarters and then they were incited to (treachery and) join in the disturbance (against the Companions) they would have readily gone for it. But (afterwards as it happened) they could not stay there (in their so called undefended houses) but a little while.
And if the enemy had entered from all sides (of the city), and they had been exhorted to AlFitnah (i.e. to renegade from Islam to polytheism) they would surely have committed it and would have hesitated thereupon but little.
And if entrance had been forced against them from those quarters, and then they had been asked to apostatise, they would have done so, and but tarried about it briefly.
But had they been entered upon from its environs and then been asked to show treason they would have done so; but they would only have tarried there a little while.
If the city had been entered upon them by the enemy from the parts adjacent, and they had been asked to desert the true believers, and to fight against them; they had surely consented thereto: But they had not, in such case, remained in the same, but a little while.
If the enemy had effected an entry at all points, and they (the disaffected) had been asked to promote confusion, they would have done so; but only a short time would they have remained in it. - (Medina).
Had the city been entered from every quarter, and had they been roused to rebellion, they would have surely rebelled. But they would have occupied it only for a little while.
New and/or Partial Translations, and works in progress
Had their city been stormed from all sides, and had they been asked to renounce their faith they would have done so without much delay.
Sayyed Abbas Sadr-Ameli
And if an entry had been made upon them from all sides of the city. Then they had been asked to apostatise, they would certainly have done it, and they would not have stayed in it but a little while.
