Commentators say that the polytheists used to sit in their gatherings and engage in idle talk about the Qur'an, mocking it. So Allah revealed: {And when you see those who engage in discourse about Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversation} (Al-An'am: 68). This verse was revealed in Mecca. Then, the Jewish scholars in Medina began doing the same as the polytheists. Those who sat with them and agreed with their talk were the hypocrites. So Allah, addressing the hypocrites, said: {It has indeed been revealed to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allah disbelieved in and mocked...} The meaning is: when you hear the disbelief in and mockery of Allah's verses. However, the action of hearing is attributed to the verses, meaning the hearing of the mockery. Al-Kisa'i said this is like saying, "I heard Abdullah being blamed." I have another interpretation: the meaning could be: when you hear the verses of Allah *while* they are being disbelieved in and mocked. Under this interpretation, Al-Kisa'i's explanation is unnecessary. The command is: so do not sit with them until they enter into a conversation other than disbelief and mockery.

Then He said: {Indeed, you would be like them.}

The meaning is: O hypocrites, you are like those scholars (Jews) in disbelief. The scholars of knowledge said: This indicates that whoever is pleased with disbelief is a disbeliever, and whoever is pleased with something reprehensible and sits with its people, even if they do not actively participate, shares in the sin as if they actively participated. This is evidenced by Allah using the term "like them" (مثلهم) here. This applies if the person sitting is pleased with that sitting. However, if one is displeased with their speech and only sits out of Taqiyyah (dissimulation) and fear, the matter is not the same. Because of this subtle point, we stated that the hypocrites who used to sit with the Jews—who attacked the Qur'an and the Messenger—were disbelievers like those Jews. Yet, the Muslims in Medina who used to sit with the disbelievers in Mecca who attacked the Qur'an remained in faith. The difference is that the hypocrites sat with the Jews by choice, whereas the Muslims sat with the disbelievers out of necessity.

Furthermore, Allah confirmed the likeness of the hypocrites to the disbelievers in disbelief by saying: {Indeed, Allah will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers in Hell all together.}

This means just as they gathered in the world to mock Allah's verses, so too will they gather in the torment of Hell on the Day of Resurrection. He used "Jami'u" (جامع) with *tanwin* (nunation) because He gathers them, but the *tanwin* was omitted out of brevity in expression, though it is intended in meaning.

! 7 < { Those who lie in wait concerning you; so if there comes for you a victory from Allah, they say, "Were we not with you?" But if the disbelievers have a share, they say, "Did we not gain control over you and protect you from the believers?" So Allah will judge between you on the Day of Resurrection, and never will Allah grant the disbelievers over the believers any way [to prevail]. } > 7 <