وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا
وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
ٱللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِئُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِى طُغْيَـٰنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
And when they meet those who believe, they say: “We believe,”
but when they are alone with their Shayatin (devils),
they say: “Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking.”
Allah mocks at them and leaves them
increasing in their deviation to wander blindly.
The Hypocrites’ Cunning and Deceit
Allah said that when the hypocrites meet the believers, they proclaim their faith and pretend to be believers, loyalists and friends. They do this to misdirect, mislead and deceive the believers. The hypocrites also want to have a share of the benefits and gains that the believers might possibly acquire. Yet,
وَإِذَا خَلَوْاْ إِلَى شَيَـطِينِهِمْ
But when they are alone with their Shayatin,
meaning, if they are alone with their devils, such as their leaders and masters among the rabbis of the Jews, hypocrites and idolators.
Human and Jinn Devils
Ibn Jarir said, “The devils of every creation are the mischievous among them. There are both human devils and Jinn devils. Allah said,
وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلْإِنسِ وَٱلْجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ ٱلْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا ۚ
And so We have appointed for every Prophet enemies ـ Shayatin (devils) among mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with adorned speech as a delusion (or by way of deception) (Al-An’am 112).
The Meaning of Mocking
Allah said,
قَالُواْ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ
They say: “Truly, we are with you”.
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayah means, “We are with you,
إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
Verily, we were but mocking,
meaning, we only mock people (the believers) and deceive them.” Ad-Dahhak said that Ibn `Abbas said that the Ayat,
إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
Verily, we were but mocking,
means, “We (meaning the hypocrites) were mocking the Companions of Muhammad.”
Also, Ar-Rabi` bin Anas and Qatadah said similarly. Allah’s statement,
اللَّهُ يَسْتَهْزِىءُ بِهِمْ وَيَمُدُّهُمْ فِي طُغْيَـنِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ
Allah mocks at them and leaves them increasing in their deviation to wander blindly
answers the hypocrites and punishes them for their behavior.
Ibn Jarir commented, “Allah mentioned what He will do to them on the Day of Resurrection, when He said,
يَوْمَ يَقُولُ الْمُنَـفِقُونَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَـتُ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ انظُرُونَا نَقْتَبِسْ مِن نُّورِكُمْ
قِيلَ ارْجِعُواْ وَرَآءَكُمْ فَالْتَمِسُواْ نُوراً فَضُرِبَ بَيْنَهُم بِسُورٍ لَّهُ بَابٌ بَاطِنُهُ فِيهِ الرَّحْمَةُ وَظَـهِرُهُ مِن قِبَلِهِ الْعَذَابُ
On the Day when the hypocrites ـ men and women ـ will say to the believers: “Wait for us! Let us get something from your light!” It will be said: “Go back to your rear! Then seek a light!” So a wall will be put up between them, with a gate therein. Inside it will be mercy, and outside it will be torment. (Al-Hadid 13), and,
وَلاَ يَحْسَبَنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ خَيْرٌ لاًّنفُسِهِمْ إِنَّمَا نُمْلِى لَهُمْ لِيَزْدَادُواْ إِثْمَاً
And let not the disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in sinfulness. (Al-i-‘Imran 178).”
He then said, “This, and its like, is Allah’s mockery of the hypocrites and the people of Shirk.”