“They thought that there would be no trial, so they became blind and deaf. Then Allah turned to them in mercy; then many of them again became blind and deaf. And Allah sees all that they do.”

“They thought that there would be no trial”—that is, they imagined that their disobedience and denial would bring them neither punishment nor penalty, and so they persisted in their falsehood. “So they became blind and deaf” to the truth. “Then” He restored them, and “Allah turned to them in mercy” when they repented to Him and returned to obedience. Yet they did not remain steadfast in that state, and most of them reverted to their former evil condition. Thus, “many of them again became blind and deaf,” while the few remained steadfast in their repentance and faith. “And Allah sees all that they do,” so He will recompense everyone according to his deeds: good for good and evil for evil.