And there are some people who say: We believe in Allah and the last day; and they are not at all believers. 8 They wish to deceive Allah and the believers; and in fact they deceive none except themselves and they do not have any understanding. 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 And when they are told, "Do not spread corruption on earth," they answer, "We are but improving things!" 11 Beware! they do spread disorder but they realize it not. 12 When asked to believe as others do, they say: "Should we believe like fools?" And yet they are the fools, even though they do not know. 13 When they meet those who believe, they say, 'We believe'; but when they go privily to their Satans, they say, 'We are with you; we were only mocking.' 14 Allah shall pay them back their mockery, and He leaves them alone in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on. 15 Such are those who have taken misguidance in exchange for guidance; but their bargain does not profit them, nor have they found true guidance. 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 Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path). 18 Or their case is like that of heavy rain pouring down from the clouds, accompanied by darkness, thunder and lightning; they thrust their fingers in their ears at the sound of thunderclaps for fear of death. God thus encompasses those who deny the truth. 19 The lightning almost takes away their sight: whenever it flashes upon them, they walk on, but as soon as darkness falls around them, they stand still. Indeed, if God pleased, He could take away their hearing and their sight: God has power over all things. 20