And there are some who, though they say: "We believe in God and the Last Day," (in reality) do not believe. 8 They would deceive God and those who have attained to faith - the while they deceive none but themselves, and perceive it not. 9 Sick are their hearts, and God adds to their malady. For them is suffering for they lie. 10 When asked to desist from spreading corruption in the land they say: "Why, we are reformers." 11 Unquestionably, it is they who are the corrupters, but they perceive [it] not. 12 And when it is said to them, "Believe sincerely as the other people have believed", they reply, "Should we believe as fools have believed?" Beware! they themselves are the fools, but they know it not. 13 And when they meet those who have believed, they say: We believe. And when they are alone with their satans, they say: verily we are with you, we were but mocking. 14 Allah (befitting His Majesty) mocks them, leaving them to wander blindly in their rebellion. 15 They are indeed those who bartered away good guidance for error and gained nothing from the deal, nor found the right way. 16 The likeness of them is as the likeness of a man who kindled a fire, and when it lit all about him God took away their light, and left them in darkness unseeing 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 wellnigh snatches away their sight; whensoever it gives them light, they walk in it, and when the darkness is over them, they halt; had God willed, He would have taken away their hearing and their sight. Truly, God is powerful over everything. 20