And some men there are who say, 'We believe in God and the Last Day'; but they are not believers. 8 They thus try to deceive Allah and the Believers, but they succeed in deceiving none except themselves and they realize it not. 9 In their hearts is a sickness, and God has increased their sickness, and there awaits them a painful chastisement for that they have cried lies. 10 When they are told not to commit corruption in the land, they reply, "We are only reformers". 11 Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers, but they do not perceive. 12 And when it said unto them: believe even as mankind have believed, they say: shall we believe even as the fools have believed? Lo! verily it is they who are the fools; and yet they know not. 13 When they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe." But when they are alone with their evil leaders, they say, "We are really with you; we were only mocking." 14 Allah mocketh back at them, and letteth them in their exorbitance wander bewildered. 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; they are dumb; they are blind so they will not return (to the right way). 18 Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder and the flash of lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears by reason of the thunder-claps, for fear of death, Allah encompasseth the disbelievers (in His guidance, His omniscience and His omnipotence). 19 The lightning well-nigh takes away their sight; whenever it gives them light, they advance therein, and whenever darkness falls around them, they stand still. And if God so willed, He could indeed take away their hearing and their sight: for, verily, God has the power to will anything. 20