{ Those who stayed behind were glad to have sat out behind the Messenger of Allah, and were adverse to waging jihad in the cause of Allah with their wealth and with themselves; they said: Do not mobilize in the heat. Say: The fire of hell is hotter; if only they could comprehend. So let them laugh little and weep much, in recompense for what they have brought upon themselves. And if Allah brings you back to a group of them, and they ask you permission to set out, then say: You all will never set out with me, and you will never fight an enemy with me; indeed it pleased you to sit it out the first time, so sit it out with those who stay behind } Al-tawba 81-83

His word: { To a group } implies, in my view, that the meaning is their leaders and chiefs; the emphasis falls on them since they have not set out nor fought against any enemy. He reiterates the meaning of fighting the enemy, since He extols jihad and the scene of the gleaming of swords, swords under which Jannah lies.