Note [original edition] : There are some men who serve
God waveringly, standing on the verge, &c.]
This expression alludes to one who being posted in the skirts of an
army, if he sees the victory inclining to his own side, stands his ground, but
if the enemy is likely to prevail, takes to his heels.
The passage, they say, was revealed on account of certain
Arabs of the
desart, who came to
Medina, and having professed
Mohammedism, were well enough
pleased with it so long as their affairs prospered, but if they met with any
adversity, were sure to lay the blame on their new religion. A tradition of
Abu Saïd mentions another accident as the occasion of this passage,
viz. that
a certain
Jew embraced
Islâm, but afterwards taking a dislike to it, on
account of some misfortune which had befallen him, went to
Mohammed, and
desired he might renounce it, and be freed from the obligation of it: but the
prophet told him that no such thing was allowed in his religion
2.