"The hypocrites are afraid that a surah may be revealed about them, informing them of what is in their hearts"—of hypocrisy; meaning: clarifying it. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, did that to them and exposed their rancor, which is what they were concealing in their chests.
Qatadah said: This surah, 'Bara'ah' (Repentance), used to be called 'Al-Fadihah' (The Exposer) of the hypocrites, because it informed of their sayings and their deeds.
"Say: Mock," regarding Muhammad and his companions. This is a threat, similar to His saying, Glorified and Exalted is He: "So whoever wills—let him believe; and whoever wills—let him disbelieve."
"Indeed, Allah will bring forth that which you fear." He did that to them and exposed their rancor, which is what they were concealing in their chests.
﴿يَحْذَرُ الْمُنَافِقُونَ أَنْ تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُورَةٌ تُنَبِّئُهُمْ بِمَا فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ﴾ مِنَ النِّفَاقِ؛ أَيْ: تُبَيِّنُ؛ فَفَعَلَ اللَّهُ ﷿ ذَلِكَ بِهِمْ، فَأَخْرَجَ أَضْغَانَهُمْ؛ وَهُوَ مَا كَانُوا يُكِنُّونَ فِي صُدُورِهِمْ.
قَالَ قَتَادَةُ: وَكَانَتْ هَذِهِ السُّورَةُ " بَرَاءَةٌ " تُسَمَّى: فَاضِحَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ؛ لأَنَّهَا أَنْبَأَتْ بِمَقَالَتِهِمْ وأعمالهم.
﴿قل استهزئوا﴾ بمحمدٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ؛ وَهَذَا وعيدٌ مِثْلَ قَوْلِهِ ﷿: ﴿فَمَنْ شَاءَ فليؤمن وَمن شَاءَ فليكفر﴾.
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ مُخْرِجٌ مَا تَحْذَرُونَ﴾ فَفَعَلَ ذَلِكَ بِهِمْ، فَأَخْرَجَ أَضْغَانَهُمْ؛ وَهُوَ مَا كَانُوا يُكِنُّونَ فِي صُدُورهمْ.
