وَمِنَ النّاسِ مَن يَقولُ آمَنّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِاليَومِ الآخِرِ وَما هُم بِمُؤمِنينَ

Some people claim, “We believe in God and the Last Day,” yet they aren’t believers.

يُخادِعونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذينَ آمَنوا وَما يَخدَعونَ إِلّا أَنفُسَهُم وَما يَشعُرونَ

They attempt to deceive God and those who believe, but they only deceive themselves, and they perceive not.

في قُلوبِهِم مَرَضٌ فَزادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُم عَذابٌ أَليمٌ بِما كانوا يَكذِبونَ

There is a disease in their hearts, and God has increased their disease. A severe punishment awaits them because of their lies.

وَإِذا قيلَ لَهُم لا تُفسِدوا فِي الأَرضِ قالوا إِنَّما نَحنُ مُصلِحونَ

When they’re told, “Don’t sow corruption on earth,” they reply, “We are only reformers.”

أَلا إِنَّهُم هُمُ المُفسِدونَ وَلـٰكِن لا يَشعُرونَ

In truth, it is they who are the corrupters, but they don’t feel it.

وَإِذا لَقُوا الَّذينَ آمَنوا قالوا آمَنّا وَإِذا خَلَوا إِلىٰ شَياطينِهِم قالوا إِنّا مَعَكُم إِنَّما نَحنُ مُستَهزِئونَ

When they encounter those who believe, they say, “We believe.” But when alone with their devils, they say, “We are really with you; we were only mocking.”

اللَّهُ يَستَهزِئُ بِهِم وَيَمُدُّهُم في طُغيانِهِم يَعمَهونَ

God mocks them and prolongs them in their transgression, wandering blindly.

أُولـٰئِكَ الَّذينَ اشتَرَوُا الضَّلالَةَ بِالهُدىٰ فَما رَبِحَت تِجارَتُهُم وَما كانوا مُهتَدينَ

These are the ones who purchased misguidance in exchange for guidance, but their trade didn’t profit them, nor are they guided.

مَثَلُهُم كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي استَوقَدَ نارًا فَلَمّا أَضاءَت ما حَولَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنورِهِم وَتَرَكَهُم في ظُلُماتٍ لا يُبصِرونَ

Their situation is like that of a person who kindles a fire; when it illuminates all around him, God takes away their light, leaving them in utter darkness, unable to see.

صُمٌّ بُكمٌ عُميٌ فَهُم لا يَرجِعونَ

Deaf, dumb, blind—they won’t return.