There are some people who say: 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day, 'yet they are not believers. 8 They seek to deceive God and the believers, but they only deceive themselves, though they do not realize it. 9 There is a disease in their hearts, so Allah added to their disease and they shall have a painful chastisement because they lied. 10 When asked to desist from spreading corruption in the land they say: "Why, we are reformers." 11 Are not they indeed the mischief-makers? But they perceive not. 12 When it is said to them, 'Believe as the people believe', they say, 'Shall we believe, as fools believe?' Truly, they are the foolish ones, but they do not know. 13 When they meet the faithful they say: "We believe;" but when alone with the devils (their fellows), they say: "We are really with you; we were joking." 14 God mocks them and gives them time to continue blindly in their transgressions. 15 These are they who purchase error at the price of guidance, so their commerce doth not prosper, neither are they guided. 16 The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him God took away their light, and left them in darkness unseeing 17 deaf, dumb, blind -- so they shall not return; 18 like unto a rain-laden cloud from heaven, wherein are darknesses and thunder and lightening. They so put their fingers in their ears because of the thunder-claps, guarding against death, and Allah is Encompasser of the infidels. 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