49. They said: "Swear A mutual oath by Allah That we shall make A secret night attack On him and his people,3287 And that we shall then Say to his heir (when he Seeks vengeance): 'We were not Present at the slaughter Of his people, and we are Positively telling the truth'." 50. They plotted and planned,3288 But We too planned, Even while they perceived it not. 51. Then see what was the end Of their plot!-this, That We destroyed them And their people, all (of them). Now such were their houses,In utter ruin,-because They practised wrong-doing. Verily in this is a Sign For people of knowledge. 53. And We saved those Who believed and practised Righteousness.
3287. A most dastardly plot, because (1) it was to be secret, (2) by night, their victims unawares, and (4) because careful provision was made that they teJJ lies together, saying that they knew nothing about it, in order to evade the which ~ali~'s heirs (if any were left) or his tribe might want to exact! And yet exactly the plots laid against the holy Prophet himself.
(3) taking should all vengeance such were
3288. Cf. iii. 54. Their secret plotting is all known to Allah, but of Allah's just and beneficent plans they know nothing. And the wicked must come to an evil end.
- 1104 -