this verse: they said concerning the prescribed punishment for unlawful sexual intercourse and concerning homicide, “Go to this unlettered Prophet. If he rules in your favour as you wish, accept his ruling. But if he rules otherwise, you have already abandoned the ruling of the Torah, so why not abandon his ruling?”

This, then, is how those seeking judgment listen to those who did not come to him. Had they been acting as spies, hearing would not have been singled out, for they both see and hear. Although they may convey to their devils what they have seen and heard, this is merely a consequence of their responsiveness and allegiance to them.

This is clarified by His words:

“Had they gone out with you, they would only have increased you in confusion and hurried about in your midst, seeking to sow discord among you; and among you are those who listen to them.”

That is, they would have hastened among you, seeking to sow discord in your midst. He then says that among you are those who respond to them when they hurry about among you. Had the meaning been, “Among you are those who spy for them,” it would not have suited the context. Rather, the point is that when they hurry about among you seeking to sow discord, and some among you listen to them, evil results. As for spying, they would have had no need of it, since they themselves are among the believers, hurrying about in their midst.

Further clarification comes in His words:

“Avid listeners to lies, devourers of unlawful gain.”

He thus mentions the speech that enters their ears and hearts, and the food that enters their mouths and bellies—the nourishment of bodies and the nourishment of hearts—for these are two forms of nourishment