Benefits of the Verse: “And when they meet those who believe, they say, ‘We believe.’ But when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, ‘Indeed, we are with you. We only take the believers in mockery.’”

In this noble verse, there is an explanation of the deception of the believers by the hypocrites. That is, the hypocrites deceive the believers, and this is their nature: that they deceive Allah and those who believe, as indicated by their saying: Then, when they go to their evil ones, they say: . Among the benefits of this noble verse is that we have no concern with anything but the outward appearance; we have no concern with anything but the outward appearance. So we deal with people based on their outward appearance, to the extent that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So in this world, we have no concern with anything but the outward appearance, but the reckoning in the Hereafter is based on the inner reality. The reason for this is that the believers deal with these hypocrites as if they are what? Believers, based on their saying: . Among the benefits of this noble verse is that the religion of the hypocrites is a religion of concealment and secrecy; they do not declare it openly because they fear being killed, as evidenced by: . Among the benefits of this noble verse is the validity of applying the term "shaytan" (devil) to the callers to disbelief, as indicated by His saying: . Among its benefits also is that when something is restricted, it is mentioned with a form indicating restriction, as He said: and did not say: "to the devils." There is a difference between "their devils" and "the devils." For example, if we address a leader of disbelief, we do not say "the leader so-and-so," but rather "the leader of his people." For this reason, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) wrote to Heraclius, saying: "Heraclius, the Great of the Romans," and did not say "the Great," but rather "the Great of the Romans." And Ibrahim (peace be upon him) said: and did not say: "the Great," but said "their Great One." So one must be attentive to such matters, meaning we do not attribute the absolute to something that is specific. Among the benefits of this noble verse is the strength of the hypocrites' loyalty to the disbelievers, as indicated by their saying: meaning in good times and bad, as the common people say, in hardship and ease. Among the benefits of this noble verse also is the confirmation by these hypocrites to their devils that they only deal with the believers in mockery, not in reality: .