And some of them said: "Their blood is not lawful; they are a people who have been tested by trial (fitna)." Then Allah said: "What is the matter with you, then, that you have become two factions regarding the hypocrites?" He does not mean that they were hypocrites in that state in which they manifested polytheism, but He attributed them to the impurity (khubth) they were upon, due to the hypocrisy in their hearts. He is saying: "Some of you said this, and some of you said that; why were you not one faction regarding them, and why did you not differ concerning their killing?" Then He said: "And Allah has cast them back [to disbelief] for what they earned," meaning: He returned them to polytheism due to what was in their hearts of doubt and hypocrisy. "Do you wish to guide those whom Allah has led astray? And whoever Allah leads astray - never will you find for him a way."