Transliteration:( Fataral lazeena fee quloobihim maraduny yusaari'oona feehim yaqooloona nakhshaaa an tuseebanaa daaa'irah; fa'asallaahu ai yaatiya bilfathi aw amrim min 'indihee fa yusbihoo 'alaa maaa asarroo feee anfusihim naadimeen )
167. The meaning of this could be that the hostilities between the Yahud and Nasara result in the Muslims suffering worldly difficulties because all our dealings are with them which could come to a standstill. Or it could mean Oh Muslims if we remain with you and cut off links with the People of the Book then in times of difficulties we will be destroyed because you are a poor minority while they are wealthy and greater in number. Thus they can be of use to us, not you.
168. In this verse, the victory refers to either Victory in general or the conquest of Makka. and commandment refers to the eviction of the infidels and polytheists out of the sacred territories of Hejaz (Makkah and Madinah), or banishing the Yahud out of Madinatul Munawwarah. It should be remembered that Allah Almighty made both these predictions come true.
169. The cause of the disgrace of the hypocrites is that they are victims of double standards, inwardly they are infidels but outwardly they show to be believers. The infidels would be destroyed and Madinah would be an abode for Muslims only, which would result in the disgrace of the hypocrites. From this, it is evident that the end result of a selfish desire to keep friendship with all is regret.
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The tafsir of Surah Maidah verse 52 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Maidah ayat 51 which provides the complete commentary from verse 51 through 53.
(5:52) Indeed you see those afflicted with the disease of hypocrisy race towards them, saying: ‘We fear lest some misfortune overtakes us.[84] And it may happen that Allah will either bring you a decisive victory or bring about something else from Himself?[85] and then they will feel remorseful at their hypocrisy which they have kept concealed in their breasts –
84. The outcome of the conflict in Arabia between Islam and unbelief (kufr) had not crystallized. Although Islam had become a formidable force owing to the daring, courage and sacrifices of its followers, the forces opposed to it were also tremendously powerful. To an objective observer it must have seemed that either party had an equal chance of success, and so the hypocrites, apparently an integral part of the Muslim body politic, sought to maintain good relations with the Jews and the. Christians as well. They expected refuge and protection from the Jews in case Islam was defeated. Moreover, the Jews and Christians held the greatest economic power in Arabia insofar as the banking system and the greenest and most fertile regions of Arabia were in their possession. For these reasons the hypocrites were keen to maintain good relations with them: they thought that to regard the conflict between Islam and unbelief as crucially important, and to sever their relations with all those currently in conflict with Islam, would be too great a risk both politically and economically.
85. They were looking for a conclusive victory, or at least something not far short of it, to inspire confidence that the conflict would end in favour of Islam.
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