And there are people who say: "We do believe in God and the Last Day," the while they do not [really] believe. 8 They [think to] deceive Allah and those who believe, but they deceive not except themselves and perceive [it] not. 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 When they are told, "Do not cause corruption in the land," they say, "We are only promoters of peace," 11 Now surely they themselves are the mischief makers, but they do not perceive. 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 But God will turn the joke against them and allow them to sink deeper into evil and wander perplexed in their wickedness. 15 Those are they that have bought error at the price of guidance, and their commerce has not profited them, and they are not right-guided. 16 They are like a man who kindles a fire, and when its glow has illumined the air God takes away their light leaving them in the dark where they will not be able to see. 17 They are deaf, blind, and dumb and cannot regain their senses. 18 Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together). 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