Surah Al Baqarah Tafseer

The Hypocrites' Cunning and Deceit

Allah said,

وَإِذَا لَقُواْ الَّذِينَ امَنُواْ قَالُواْ امَنَّا

And when they meet those who believe, they say:"We believe,"

Allah said that when the hypocrites meet the believers, they proclaim their faith and pretend to be believers, loyalists and friends. They do this to misdirect, mislead and deceive the believers. The hypocrites also want to have a share of the benefits and gains that the believers might possibly acquire.

Yet,

وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَاطِينِهِمْ

But when they are alone with their Shayatin,

meaning, if they are alone with their devils, such as their leaders and masters among the rabbis of the Jews, hypocrites and idolators.

Human and Jinn Devils

Ibn Jarir said,

"The devils of every creation are the mischievous among them. There are both human devils and Jinn devils.

Allah said,

وَكَذَلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نِبِىٍّ عَدُوّاً شَيَـطِينَ الاِنْسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُوراً

And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies ـ Shayatin (devils) among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception). (6:112)

The Meaning of `Mocking

Allah said,

قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكْمْ

They say:"Truly, we are with you".

Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah means,

"We are with you,

إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِوُونَ

(Verily, we were but mocking), meaning, we only mock people (the believers) and deceive them."

إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِوُونَ

Verily, we were but mocking,

Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn Abbas said that the Ayah, means,

"We (meaning the hypocrites) were mocking the Companions of Muhammad."

Also, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly.

Allah's statement,

اللّهُ يَسْتَهْزِىءُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ