The Qur'an (Oxford World's Classics)

122
The Quran 9: 64
64 The hypocrites fear that a sura will be revealed exposing what is
in their hearts – say, ‘Carry on with your jokes: God will bring about
what you fear!’– 65 yet if you were to question them, they would be
sure to say, ‘We were just chatting, just amusing ourselves.’ Say,
‘Were you making jokes about God, His Revelations, and His Messenger?
66 Do not try to justify yourselves; you have gone from belief
to disbelief.’ We may forgive some of you, but We will punish others:
they are evildoers. 67 The hypocrites, both men and women, are all
the same: they order what is wrong and forbid what is right; they are
tight-fisted. They have ignored God, so He has ignored them. a The
hypocrites are the disobedient ones. 68 God promises the Fire of Hell
as a permanent home for the hypocrites, both men and women, and
the disbelievers: this is enough for them. God rejects them and a
lasting punishment awaits them. 69 ‘You b are like those who lived
before you: they were even stronger than you, with more wealth and
children; they enjoyed their share in this life as you have enjoyed
yours; like them, you have indulged in idle talk.’ Their deeds go to
waste in this world and the next; it is they who will lose all in the life
to come. 70 Have they never heard the stories about their predecessors,
the peoples of Noah, Ad, Thamud, Abraham, Midian, and the
ruined cities? Their messengers came to them with clear evidence of
the truth: God would not deceive them; they deceived themselves.
71 The believers, both men and women, support each other; they
order what is right and forbid what is wrong; they keep up the prayer
and pay the prescribed alms; they obey God and His Messenger.
God will give His mercy to such people: God is almighty and
wise. 72 God has promised the believers, both men and women,
Gardens graced with flowing streams where they will remain; good,
peaceful homes in Gardens of lasting bliss; and – greatest of all –
God’s good pleasure. That is the supreme triumph.
73 Prophet, strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites,
and be tough with them. Hell is their final home – an evil destination!
74 They swear by God that they did not, but they certainly did
speak words of defiance and became defiant after having submitted;
they tried to do something, c though they did not achieve it,
a See note to 7: 51.
b Another example of iltifat: God turns to address them.
c To harm the Prophet.