Tafseer Ibn Kathir of AT TAUBAH [56]

56. They swear by Allah that they are truly of you while they are not of you, but they are a people (hypocrites) who are afraid (that you may kill them). 57. Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush. Allah describes to His Prophet the fright, fear, anxiety and nervousness of the hypocrites,

(They swear by Allah that they are truly of you), swearing a sure oath,

(while they are not of you), in reality,

(but they are a people who are afraid), and this is what made them swear.

(Should they find a refuge), such as a fort in which they hide and fortify themselves,

(or caves), in some mountains,

(or a place of concealment), a tunnel or a hole in the ground, according to the explanation given by Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and Qatadah,

(they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush) away from you because they associate with you unwillingly, not because they are fond of you. They prefer that they do not have to mix with you, but necessity has its rules! It is because of this that they feel grief, sadness and sorrow, seeing Islam and its people enjoying ever more might, triumph and glory. Therefore, whatever pleases Muslims brings them grief, and this is why they prefer to disassociate themselves from the believers. Hence Allah's statement,

(Should they find a refuge, or caves, or a place of concealment, they would turn straightway thereto with a swift rush.)