They wish if you are softening, then they may also become softening.
Through this verse Three Time Knower Lord Allah reveals the status of the chest of disbelievers that if Messenger accepts a soft corner approach towards the disbelievers, they may also accept soft corner approach towards Messenger and believers. The believer who follows the way of Messenger explains Adhikr by hearing which the Fujjar will flee way from there just like the wild donkeys flee away hearing the lion roar as explained in verse 74: 49-51. Then the Fujjar including the Hypocrites and their followers who are filth as told in verses 9: 28, 95, and for whom Adhikr won’t increase anything except filth over filth as told in verse 9: 125 blame the believer by quoting the verse 3: 159 that the Messenger’s behaviour was very softly, and so why are you making others donkey and dog; and that since there is no compulsion in religion, why are you explaining Lord’s Book so harshly. Actually these Fujjar have read the verses 7: 175-176 which compare them to dog, and verse 62: 5 which compares them to donkey. Moreover, it is told in verses 15: 12 and 26: 100 that Allah is penetrating Adhikr as a hot iron rod into the inner hearts of Mujirims who do not utilise intelligence. See explanation 4: 63; 9: 73; and 10: 15-16.