The holy verse says...

“Verily the way (to blame) is only against those who ask you permission (to stay behind) while they are rich.*** They are content to be with those who stay back, and Allah has set a seal on their hearts, thus they do not know (what they have missed).” In this verse, the Qur’ān explains the fifth group, i.e. those who have never been excused with Allah, and will not be excused in the future either.

It implies that the way of blame and punishment is open only to those who ask you permission not to participate in the Holy Struggle while they are rich and are in welfare. They possess enough possibilities and necessary means for this affair.

The verse says: “Verily the way (to blame) is only against those who ask you permission (to stay behind) while they are rich…” Then it adds that this disgrace is enough for them that they contented to stay back in Medina with the persons who were feeble, sick, and handicapped and to be deprived from the honour of participation in the battle-field.

It says: “…They are content to be with those who stay back…” And also this retribution is enough for them that, because of their own ugly deeds, Allah has ceased them from the ability of contemplation and comprehension by sealing their hearts. Therefore, they do not know what kind of excellent ranks they have lost.

The verse continues saying: “…and Allah has set a seal on their hearts, thus they do not know (what they have missed).” The strong and exalted spirits of the strivers of Islam are vividly made clear from this verse. It illustrates how they preferred and preceded the honour of attending in the battlefield and the honour of martyrdom to any other honours. This very fact makes manifest one of the important factors of the rapid expansion of Islam at that time and our retardation in this age.