And there are some people who say: We believe in Allah and the last day; and they are not at all believers. 8 They thus try to deceive Allah and the Believers, but they succeed in deceiving none except themselves and they realize it not. 9 Sick are their hearts, and God adds to their malady. For them is suffering for they lie. 10 And when they are told, "Do not spread corruption on earth," they answer, "We are but improving things!" 11 They, certainly, are corrupt but do not realize it. 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 the faithful they say: "We believe;" but when alone with the devils (their fellows), they say: "We are really with you; we were joking." 14 Allah will mock at them and prolong them in sin, blundering blindly. 15 These are they who have bartered Guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction, 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, they shall never return. 18 Or like rain pouring from the sky which hides within it darkness, thunder and lightning. They thrust their fingers into their ears for safety against noise and death. But God surrounds those who believe not from all sides. 19 It seems the lightning may snatch away their sight from them; whenever it flashes they walk in it, and when it darkens they stand still; if Allah willed, He could take away their hearing and their sight; indeed Allah is Able to do all things. 20