or those who listen to the hypocrites.

Allah—glorified be He—has told us that among us are people who listen to the hypocrites and accept what they say:

“Had they gone out among you, they would have added nothing but disorder, and would have hurried about in your midst, seeking to sow discord among you; and among you are those who listen to them.”

The verb takes the preposition lām (“to”) because it implies acceptance and obedience, as Allah says through His servant:

“Allah hears whoever praises Him.”

This means that He responds to whoever praises Him. Likewise, “those who listen to them” means those who obey them. If there were people among the Companions who listened to the hypocrites, what, then, of others?

He has likewise told us about those who outwardly submit to the judgment of the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—saying:

“Do not let those who rush into disbelief grieve you: those who say with their mouths, ‘We believe,’ but whose hearts do not believe, and those among the Jews who listen eagerly to falsehood and listen to other people who have not come to you”—up to His words:

“They listen eagerly to falsehood and devour unlawful gain.”

The correct view is that this lām introduces the object, as in His words, “devour unlawful gain.” That is, they profess falsehood and desire it, and they listen and obey other people besides you; they do not reserve their obedience exclusively for Allah and His Messenger.

Whoever says that the lām expresses purpose—meaning that they listen in order to lie for the sake of those people—is mistaken. The context indicates that the first meaning is intended. The truth is often lost between the ignorant and unlettered on the one hand, and those who distort words and possess a trait of hypocrisy on the other, as He—glorified be He—has told us concerning the People of the Book