And there are people who say: "We do believe in God and the Last Day," the while they do not [really] 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 In their hearts is a disease, so Allah hath increased unto them that disease; and unto them shall be a torment afflictive, for they have been lying. 10 When it is said to them, 'Do not corrupt in the land,' they reply, 'We are only reformers.' 11 Yet they are surely mischief-mongers, even though they do not know. 12 When it is said to them: "Believe as the others believe:" They say: "Shall we believe as the fools believe?" Nay, of a surety they are the fools, but they do not know. 13 To the believers they declare belief and, in secret to their own devils, they say, "We were only mocking". 14 God shall mock them, and shall lead them on blindly wandering in their insolence. 15 They are indeed those who bartered away good guidance for error and gained nothing from the deal, nor found the right way. 16 Their example is like that of one who kindled a fire; and when it lit up all that was around it, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see anything. 17 Deaf, dumb, and blind, they shall never return. 18 Or (still another parable may be cited to depict their condition): heavy rain is falling from the sky, accompanied by pitch darkness, thunder and lightning. When they hear the thunderclap, they thrust their fingers into their ears for fear of death, but Allah is encircling the disbelievers on all sides. 19 The lightning almost snatcheth away their sight from them. As often as it flasheth forth for them they walk therein, and when it darkeneth against them they stand still. If Allah willed, He could destroy their hearing and their sight. Lo! Allah is able to do all things. 20