وَلَقَدْ كَانُوا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ مِنْ قَبْلُ لَا يُوَلُّونَ الْأَدْبَارَ وَكَانَ عَهْدُ اللَّهِ مَسْئُولًا ﴿۱۵﴾ قُلْ لَنْ يَنْفَعَكُمُ الْفِرَارُ إِنْ فَرَرْتُمْ مِنَ الْمَوْتِ أَوِ الْقَتْلِ وَإِذًا لَا تُمَتَّعُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿۱۶﴾ قُلْ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَعْصِمُكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ سُوءًا أَوْ أَرَادَ بِكُمْ رَحْمَةً وَلَا يَجِدُونَ لَهُمْ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَلَا نَصِيرًا ﴿۱۷﴾ قَدْ يَعْلَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُعَوِّقِينَ مِنْكُمْ وَالْقَائِلِينَ لِإِخْوَانِهِمْ هَلُمَّ إِلَيْنَا وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الْبَأْسَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا ﴿۱۸﴾

﴾15﴿ Wa laqad kaanoo 'aahadul laaha min qablu laa yuwal loonal adbaar; wa kaana 'ahdul laahi mas'oolaa
﴾16﴿ Qul lany yanfa'akumul firaaru in farartum minal mawti awil qatli wa izal laa tumatta'oona illaa qaleelaa
﴾17﴿ Qul man zal lazee ya'simukum minal laahi in araada bikum sooo'an aw araada bikum rahmah; wa laa yajidoona lahum min doonil laahi waliyyanw wa laa naseeraa
﴾18﴿ Qad ya'lamul laahul mu'awwiqeena minkum walqaaa'ileena li ikhwaanihim halumma ilainaa, wa laa yaatoonal baasa illaa qaleelaa

﴾15﴿ And indeed, they had already made a covenant with Allah before that they would not turn their backs, and the covenant of Allah will be questioned
﴾16﴿ Say, Fleeing will not benefit you if you flee from death or killing, and then you will not be given enjoyment except for a little while
﴾17﴿ Say, Who is it that can protect you from Allah if He intends harm for you or intends mercy for you, And they will not find for themselves besides Allah any protector or helper
﴾18﴿ Indeed, Allah knows those among you who hold others back (from battle) and those who say to their brothers, Come to us, while they do not come to battle except a little

[15] In this verse as well, there is a rebuke to the hypocrites, and one of their disgraceful traits is mentioned: breaking promises (naqḍ al-‘ahd).
[16] This verse also contains rebuke and warning for the hypocrites due to their breach of promise.
"Turning their backs" refers to fleeing — meaning they abandon their commitments and run away in times of trial.
[17] This too is a rebuke — meaning, if someone claims that by fleeing repeatedly, a person can escape death or being killed, the verse responds by saying: if Allah wills a specific trial or calamity for that person, no one can save him.
This verse also refutes shirk fī al-taṣarruf (associating partners with Allah in matters of control), making it clear that no guardian, leader, or anyone else has control over benefit or harm.
[18] In this verse, there is a rebuke to the hypocrites, and three disgraceful traits of theirs are mentioned:
It was previously mentioned that they flee from jihad — now it is mentioned that they also discourage others from participating.
"Illā qalīlā" — means that even when they do come to battle, it is for show (riyā’) and worldly motives.
This indicates that worship done with a corrupt intention, even if abundant, is considered insignificant in the sight of Allah.