These statements that we have mentioned from those from whom we reported them, even if the wording of their speakers differs, are close in meaning, because they all indicate that God struck the rainstorm as a parable for the outward faith of the hypocrite, and likened the darkness within it to his error, and the bright light of its lightning to the light of his faith (1); and his guarding against the thunderbolts by placing his fingers in his ears, to the weakness of his heart and the faintness of his spirit out of fear of God's punishment descending upon his domain (2); and his walking in the light of the lightning, to his remaining upright upon the light of his faith; and his standing still in the dark, to his bewilderment in his error and his relapse into his blindness (3).

The interpretation of the verse then—since the matter is as we have described—is: "Or [the parable of] that by which the hypocrites sought light—from their saying with their tongues to the Messenger of God, Peace and blessings of God be upon him, and to the believers: 'We believe in God, in the Last Day, and in Muhammad and what he brought,' such that thereby the rulings governing believers in this world applied to them, while they—despite manifesting with their tongues what they manifest—are deniers of God, His Messenger, Peace and blessings of God be upon him, what he brought from God, and the Last Day, believing in their hearts the opposite of what they utter with their tongues, out of their blindness and ignorance of the error they are in, not knowing in which of the two paths set before them guidance lies (4): whether in the disbelief they were upon before God sent Muhammad, Peace and blessings of God be upon him, with what He sent him to them, or in that which Muhammad, Peace and blessings of God be upon him, brought to them from their Lord? Thus, they are fearful of God's threat to them on the tongue of Muhammad, Peace and blessings of God be upon him, while despite their fear of it, they are in truth doubtful about it—in their hearts is a disease, so God increased their disease—is like a rainstorm that traveled by night in a dark raincloud