There are some people who say: 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day, 'yet they are not believers. 8 They would deceive God and those who have attained to faith - the while they deceive none but themselves, and perceive it not. 9 In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increaseth their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie. 10 When asked to desist from spreading corruption in the land they say: "Why, we are reformers." 11 Lo! verily it is they who are the corrupters, and yet they perceive not. 12 And when it is said to them, "Believe as the people have believed," they say, "Should we believe as the foolish have believed?" Unquestionably, it is they who are the foolish, but they know [it] not. 13 And when they fall in with those who believe, they say: We believe; but when they go apart to their devils they declare: Lo! we are with you; verily we did but mock. 14 But God will turn the joke against them and allow them to sink deeper into evil and wander perplexed in their wickedness. 15 These are they who purchased error for guidance, but their traffic profited not, nor have they ever become guided. 16 Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see. 17 They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path). 18 Or their case is like that of heavy rain pouring down from the clouds, accompanied by darkness, thunder and lightning; they thrust their fingers in their ears at the sound of thunderclaps for fear of death. God thus encompasses those who deny the truth. 19 The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes upon them they walk on, but as soon as it darkens they stand still. Indeed, if Allah willed, He could take away their sight and hearing. Allah has power over all things. 20