for they did not prostrate to Him in this world, but intended only to be seen by people. Recompense in the Hereafter corresponds to one’s deeds in this world. Thus, they were given a light which was then extinguished, because in this world they entered faith and then departed from it. This is why Allah set forth this parable for them. It concerns those among them who believed and then disbelieved; these are the ones who will be given a light in the Hereafter which will then be extinguished.

For this reason, He said:

“So they will not return”—

to Islam inwardly. Qatādah and Muqātil said, “They will not turn back from their misguidance.” Al-Suddī said, “They will not return to Islam,” meaning inwardly, since outwardly they profess it. This parable applies only to this worldly life, and it describes some of them: those who believed and then disbelieved.

As for those who were always hypocrites, He set forth the other parable for them, saying:

“Or like a rainstorm from the sky, bringing darkness, thunder and lightning.”

This is the more correct of the two views. The commentators differed over whether both parables describe all of them, or whether this parable describes only some of them. There are two views on this, and the second is correct, because He said, “Or like a rainstorm.” The word “or” affirms only one of the two alternatives. This indicates that they are described by these two parables: none falls outside them, but some resemble the one and others resemble the other. If all of them resembled both parables, He would not have used “or,” but rather the conjunction “and.”

The claim that “or” here indicates a choice—as when one says, “Sit with al-Hasan or Ibn Sīrīn”—has no basis, because a choice is offered in commands and requests, not in statements. Likewise, the claim that “or” means “and,” or is intended to make those addressed uncertain