Resurrection.”

He thus explained that his recompense would correspond to his deed: for that charity, he would be repaid with shrivelled, worthless dates of the same kind.

This subject opens vast avenues for understanding the Hereafter, the differences between people’s conditions there, and the events that unfold therein.

His words, exalted be His mention:

“Their likeness is that of someone who kindled a fire. When it illuminated everything around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, unable to see.”

He said, “Allah took away their light,” not their fire, for fire both burns and shines. He removed its illumination and radiance, leaving them exposed to its harm and radiance. Such is the condition of the hypocrites: hypocrisy extinguished the light of their faith, while the heat of disbelief, doubts, and specious notions remained, seething in their hearts. Their hearts have already been scorched in this world by its heat and harm, its scorching blasts and blaze. On the Day of Resurrection, Allah Most High will make them burn in it as a fire closed over them, reaching into their hearts.

This, then, is the likeness of someone whom the light of faith did not reach in this world, but who instead left it and parted from it after being illuminated by it. Such is the condition of the hypocrite: he recognized, then denied; he acknowledged, then rejected. He is thus in darkness, deaf, mute, and blind, as Allah Most High said concerning their brethren among the disbelievers:

6:39 “Those who deny Our signs are deaf and mute, in darkness.”

Allah Most High also said:

2:171 “The likeness of those who disbelieve is that of someone who calls out to creatures that hear nothing but calls and cries. Deaf, mute, and blind, they do not understand.”

Allah Most High likened the hypocrites’ departure from the light after it had shone upon them to the condition of someone who kindled a fire, only for its light to leave him after illuminating everything around him. For through mixing with the Muslims, praying and fasting alongside them, hearing the Quran, and witnessing the signs and beacons of Islam, the hypocrites have witnessed the brightness and seen the light