The one who kindled a fire

What it means

The hypocrites are likened to a man in deep darkness who lights a fire; as soon as it lights up what is around him, Allah takes away their light and leaves them in darkness, unable to see (2:17–18).

As-Sa'di explains that the fire is the light of faith they took from the believers, which was never their own: it protected their lives and property in this world. When death came, that benefit ended, and they were left in the darkness of the grave, of disbelief and hypocrisy, of sins, and finally of the Fire.

Evidence