And there are some who, though they say: "We believe in God and the Last Day," (in reality) do not believe. 8 Fain would they deceive Allah and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and realise (it) not! 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 And when it is said unto them: Make not mischief in the earth, they say: We are peacemakers only. 11 Yet they are surely mischief-mongers, even though they do not know. 12 When it is said to them: 'Believe as (other) people believe,' they reply, 'Are we to believe as fools believe?' It is they who are the fools, if only they knew! 13 When they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe;" but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say: "We are really with you: We (were) only jesting." 14 Allah will mock at them and prolong them in sin, blundering blindly. 15 These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided. 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 Deaf, dumb and blind; and they return not. 18 Or [the parable] of a violent cloudburst in the sky, with utter darkness, thunder and lightning: they put their fingers into their ears to keep out the peals of thunder, in terror of death; but God encompasses [with His might] all who deny the truth. 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