There are some people who say: 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day, 'yet 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 disease; and Allah has increased their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). 10 And when they are told, "Do not spread corruption on earth," they answer, "We are but improving things!" 11 Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] 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 When they meet those who believe, they say, 'We, too believe.' But when they are alone with their devils, they say to them: 'We follow none but you, we were only mocking 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 buy error for the right direction, so their bargain shall bring no gain, nor are they the followers of the right direction. 16 Their condition may be described in a parable: a man kindled a fire and when it illuminated all around him, Allah took away the light from their eyes and left them in utter darkness, where they could not see anything. 17 They are deaf; they are dumb; they are blind so they will not return (to the right way). 18 Or (another similitude) is that of a rain-laden cloud from the sky: In it are zones of darkness, and thunder and lightning: They press their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunder-clap, the while they are in terror of death. But Allah is ever round the rejecters of Faith! 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