(101) “Among the Bedouins around you are hypocrites, as are some of the people of Medina. They are entrenched in hypocrisy. You do not know them, but We know them. We shall punish them twice; then they will be returned to a tremendous punishment.”

Allah, exalted is He, says: “Among the Bedouins around you are hypocrites, as are some of the people of Medina.” They too are hypocrites who “are entrenched in hypocrisy”; that is, they have become practiced in it, persisted in it, and grown increasingly transgressive in it.

“You do not know them” individually, such that you could punish them or deal with them as their hypocrisy warrants. Allah has consummate wisdom in this.

“We know them. We shall punish them twice.” This may mean that the dual retains its literal sense and that they will suffer one punishment in this world and another in the Hereafter.

In this world, they suffer the anxiety and sorrow (1) that afflict them, as well as resentment at the conquest and victory granted to the believers. In the Hereafter, theirs will be the punishment of the Fire—what a wretched abode!

Alternatively, it may mean that We shall intensify their punishment, multiply it, and repeat it.