They thought that the parties might come back. In that case, they would wish that they were lost in the desert, asking about your news from afar. Had the parties attacked you while they were with you, they would rarely support you.
يَحسَبونَ الأَحزابَ لَم يَذهَبوا وَإِن يَأتِ الأَحزابُ يَوَدّوا لَو أَنَّهُم بادونَ فِى الأَعرابِ يَسـَٔلونَ عَن أَنبائِكُم وَلَو كانوا فيكُم ما قٰتَلوا إِلّا قَليلًا
yahsaboonal Ahzaaba lam yazhaboo wa iny yaatil Ahzaabu yawaddoo law annahum baadoona fil A’raabi yasaloona ‘an ambaaa’ikum wa law kaanoo feekum maa qaatalooo illaa qaleela