وَإِذْ قَالَت طَّائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُمْ يَا أَهْلَ يَثْرِبَ لَا مُقَامَ لَكُمْ فَارْجِعُوا وَيَسْتَأْذِنُ فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمُ النَّبِيَّ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ بُيُوتَنَا عَوْرَةٌ وَمَا هِيَ بِعَوْرَةٍ إِن يُرِيدُونَ إِلَّا فِرَارًا
Wa-ith qalat ta-ifatun minhum ya ahla yathriba la muqama lakum fairjiAAoo wayasta/thinu fareequn minhumu alnnabiyya yaqooloona inna buyootana AAawratun wama hiya biAAawratin in yureedoona illa firaran
And when said a party of them, "O People (of) Yathrib! No stand for you, so return." And asked permission a group of them (from) the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses (are) exposed," and not they (were) exposed. Not they wished but to flee.
and when some of them said, O you people of Yathrib! You cannot withstand [the enemy] here: hence, go back [to your homes]!" ¬ó Whereupon a party from among them asked leave of the Prophet, saying, Behold, our houses are exposed [to attack]!" ¬ó The while they were not [really] exposed: they wanted nothing but to flee.
Behold! A party among them said: "Ye men of Yathrib! ye cannot stand (the attack)! therefore go back!" And a band of them ask for leave of the Prophet, saying, "Truly our houses are bare and exposed," though they were not exposed they intende d nothing but to run away.
And when a party of them said: O folk of Yathrib! There is no stand (possible) for you, therefor turn back. And certain of them (even) sought permission of the Prophet, saying: Our homes lie open (to the enemy). And they lay not open. They but wished to flee.
And if an entry were made upon them from the outlying parts of it, then they were asked to wage war (against the Muslims), they would certainly have done it, and they would not have stayed in it but a little while.
And when a faction of them said, "O people of Yathrib, there is no stability for you [here], so return [home]." And a party of them asked permission of the Prophet, saying, "Indeed, our houses are unprotected," while they were not exposed. They did not intend except to flee.