is a parable of disbelief whose adherent thinks he follows the truth, while in fact he follows falsehood:

“What of one whose evil deeds have been made appealing to him, so that he regards them as good?”

He does not know, nor does he know that he does not know. Hence the comparison to a mirage on a level plain. The second is a parable of disbelief whose adherent holds no belief at all, but is in “layers of darkness, one above another.” So profound is his ignorance that he does not even believe himself to be following the truth; rather, he has remained ignorant and astray amid accumulated darkness.

Moreover, a hypocrite or disbeliever may sometimes exhibit one of these characteristics and sometimes the other. The distinction between the two parables thus reflects differences both between individuals and between their states. In any case, what one parable illustrates is not identical to what the other illustrates, since the two parables differ in both imagery and meaning. Hence only one parable is given for faith, because truth is one: it is likened to light. Those others, however, are likened to an illusory light, such as a mirage on a level plain, or to accumulated darkness. Likewise, the hypocrite is likened to someone who could see and then became blind, or to someone in an unsettled state who hears and sees things from which he derives no benefit.

It is thus clear that some hypocrites had believed and then inwardly fell into disbelief. Reports that certain men believed and then became hypocrites are widespread among scholars of hadith, Quranic exegesis and prophetic biography. This happened for various reasons.

One was the matter of the direction of prayer: when it was changed, a group abandoned faith because of it. It was a trial by which Allah tested the people. The Most High says:

“We appointed the direction of prayer you used to face only so that We might know who follows the Messenger and who turns back on his heels. It was indeed a great burden, except for those whom Allah guided.”