154 - Al-Hasan ibn al-Sabah narrated to us, Shababah narrated to us, Warqa' narrated to us, from Ibn Abi Najih, from Mujahid regarding: "Those are the ones who have purchased misguidance [in exchange] for guidance," [meaning] they believed, then they disbelieved.

155 - Abu Zur'ah narrated to us, 'Amr ibn Hammad narrated to us, Asbat narrated to us, from al-Suddi: "Those are the ones who have purchased misguidance [in exchange] for guidance," he says: They took misguidance and abandoned guidance.

His saying, the Exalted: "Their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided."

156 - Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Rabi' narrated to us, 'Abd al-Razzaq informed us, Ma'mar narrated to us, from Qatadah, regarding His saying: "Their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided," he said: This refers to the hypocrites.

157 - Muhammad ibn Yahya narrated to us, al-'Abbas ibn al-Walid informed us, Yazid ibn Zuray' narrated to us, Sa'id ibn Abi 'Arubah narrated to us, from Qatadah, regarding His saying: "Their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided," [he said]: By Allah, I have seen them; they exited from guidance into misguidance, from the community (jama'ah) into disunity, from security into fear, and from the Sunnah into innovation. He says: "Their transaction has brought no profit, nor were they guided."

His saying: "Their example is that of one who kindled a fire."

158 - My father narrated to us, Abu Salih the scribe of al-Layth narrated to us, Mu'awiyah ibn Salih narrated to me, from 'Ali ibn Abi Talhah, from Ibn 'Abbas, regarding His saying: "Their example is that of one who kindled a fire," he said: This is a parable Allah set forth for the hypocrites, in that they used to feel strengthened by Islam among the Muslims and share the spoils of war with them. Then, when they died, Allah took that strength away from them, just as He took the light away from the owner of the fire.

159 - 'Isam ibn al-Rawwad narrated to us, Adam narrated to us, Abu Ja'far al-Razi narrated to us, from al-Rabi' ibn Anas, from Abu al-'Aliyah: "Their example is that of one who kindled a fire," for the light of the fire exists only as long as you keep it ignited; once it dies out, its light departs. Likewise, the hypocrite, every time he speaks a word of sincerity—'La ilaha illa Allah' (there is no god but Allah)—it illuminates for him, but when he doubts, he falls into darkness.

160 - 'Isam ibn al-Rawwad narrated to us, Adam narrated to us, Abu Shaybah—meaning Shu'ayb ibn Ruzayq—narrated to us, from 'Ata' al-Khurasani, regarding His saying: "Their example is that of one who kindled a fire," he said: This is a parable for the hypocrite.