and those of his Companions, and reveal their secrets to you?”
Al-Mubarrad said: The hypocrites say to the disbelievers, “Did we not prevail upon you in your view, restrain you, and turn you away from the believers”—that is, from entering their ranks? It was also said that it means: “Did we not gain the upper hand over you by supporting you and protect you from the believers?” That is, we warded off the believers’ assault against you by discouraging them from fighting you and by sending you reports of their news and affairs. By these words, the hypocrites intended to remind the disbelievers of the favor they had done them.
“Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection”—that is, between the people of faith and the people of hypocrisy. “And Allah will never grant the disbelievers a way against the believers.” Ali said: This is in the Hereafter. Ikrimah narrated from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him: It means any proof. It was also said: It means victory over the Prophet’s Companions, peace and blessings be upon him.
“Surely the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. When they stand up to pray, they stand lazily, showing themselves to people and remembering Allah only a little, wavering between that, neither belonging to these nor to those. Whoever Allah leaves astray, you will never find a way for him.” (142–143)
“Surely the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them”: that is, they deal with Him as deceivers do, while He deceives them—that is, He recompenses them for their deception. On the Day of Resurrection, they will be given a light just as the believers are given a light. The believers will then proceed by their light across the Bridge, while the light of the hypocrites will be extinguished.
“When they stand up to pray”—that is, the hypocrites—“they stand lazily,” meaning reluctantly and heavily. They do not seek Allah through it: if someone sees them, they pray; otherwise, they turn away and do not pray. “Showing themselves to people”: that is, they do this merely to be seen by people, not in obedience to Allah’s command. “And remembering Allah only a little.” Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and al-Hasan said: This was said because they do it for show and to gain a reputation. Had they sought Allah’s pleasure through that little, it would have been much. Qatadah said: The hypocrites’ remembrance is little only because Allah Most High does not accept it; and everything Allah accepts is abundant.
“Wavering between that”: that is, uncertain and bewildered between disbelief and faith. “Neither belonging to these nor to those”: that is, they are not among the believers, such that what is due to the believers is due to them; nor are they among the disbelievers, such that what is taken from the disbelievers is taken from them. “Whoever Allah leaves astray, you will never find a way for him”—that is, a path to guidance.
Ismail ibn Abd al-Qahir al-Jurjani informed us; Abd al-Ghafir ibn Muhammad al-Farisi informed us; Muhammad ibn Isa al-Juludi narrated to us; Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn Sufyan narrated to us; Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj narrated to us; Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna narrated to us; Abd al-Wahhab—meaning al-Thaqafi—narrated to us; Abdullah ibn Umar narrated to us from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: “The hypocrite is like a wandering ewe between two flocks, turning toward…”