And there are people who say: "We do believe in God and the Last Day," the while they do not [really] believe. 8 They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive only themselves and they do not perceive. 9 A sickness exists in their hearts to which God adds more sickness. Besides this, they will suffer a painful punishment as a result of the lie which they speak. 10 When it is said to them, 'Do not corrupt in the land,' they reply, 'We are only reformers.' 11 Lo! verily it is they who are the corrupters, and yet they perceive not. 12 When they are told to believe as everyone else does, they say, "Should we believe as fools do?" In fact, they themselves are fools, but they do not know it. 13 To the believers they declare belief and, in secret to their own devils, they say, "We were only mocking". 14 God shall mock them, and shall lead them on blindly wandering in their insolence. 15 These are the people who purchased error in exchange of guidance – so their bargain did not profit them, and they did not know how to trade. 16 Their parable is that of people who kindle a fire: but as soon as it has illumined all around them, God takes away their light and leaves them in utter darkness, wherein they cannot see: 17 Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path). 18 Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together). 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