There are some people who say: 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day, 'yet they are not believers. 8 They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [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 asked to desist from spreading corruption in the land they say: "Why, we are reformers." 11 Truly, they are the workers of corruption but they are not aware. 12 And when they are told, "Believe as other people believe," they answer, "Shall we believe as the weak-minded believe?" Oh, verily, it is they, they who are weak-minded - but they know it not! 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 they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction, 16 Their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire, but when it had illumined all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them in utter darkness-- they do not see. 17 They are deaf, blind, and dumb and cannot regain their senses. 18 Or (still another parable may be cited to depict their condition): heavy rain is falling from the sky, accompanied by pitch darkness, thunder and lightning. When they hear the thunderclap, they thrust their fingers into their ears for fear of death, but Allah is encircling the disbelievers on all sides. 19 The lightning well-nigh snatcheth away their sight; whensoever it flasheth on them, they walk therein, and when it becometh dark unto them, they stand still. And had Allah willed He would of a surety have taken away their hearing and their sights; verily Allah is over everything potent. 20