Examples of munafiqoon in 2:17-21
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With Allah's name, Ar-Rahman, Ar-Rahim. I seek a refuge with Him from Satan, Expelled.
There're many description of munafiqoon in the Qur'an and we should know them. There're also many examples which are describing to us what Allah swt wants us to know, if we ponder.
There's surah (a chapter) called Munafiqoon, where we can find that munafiqoon are ex-believers they believed, then disbelieved, then Allah sealed their hearts. We should have this in mind while we're thinking about ayats from 2nd surah. We should know that they have some knowledge and this is why many people will think they're believers.Ayat 217 starts with "Their example is as an example of one...". We should understand that Qur'anic lisan (tongue, language) is not as any other, and we should discard what we know from our languages. If we're thinking in our native language we will probably expect that after these words will be told about ONE PERSON and his example is as example of munafiqoon, but that's not the case. We should read the whole example and think of it in totality.
This person lits the fire (nar), which illuminates all around him. What is mostly understood from the words after is that Allah damps down a fire, but it is not what is said. What is said is that Allah takes (goes with) their (munafiqoon's) light (noor) and leaves them in darkness (dhulumat), they can't see.
Fire (nar) is still illuminating all around that person, just its light (noor) is taken from munafiqoon. This is the first example, in short. What is exactly said by these words?
We should remember that munafiqoon's hearts are sealed, and we should know that hearts are for seeing and for thinking, which eventually leads to getting knowledge and believing. What are nar and noor in this ayat? Who's the person mentioned? The person is the teacher (mu'allim) whose words and deeds lit the fire, which is radiating the light. That light is all around him, ones who're able to reaceive it will have benefit of it, but ones whose receivers are sealed cannot, they'll stay in darkness, they won't see. We should know that the Qur'an itself is the light (an-noor).
In another example in 220 we should understand that barq (lightning) is too strong from munafiqoon's visions. They're receiving this too strong light for them only for a moment, as lightning's flash, and in that moment they can move, just a little, towards Him. After that they're stopping, living in darkness. If Allah wants, He could take their hearings and visions, so they wouldn't have even that one moment.
If any of us gets the knowledge ('ilm) as the result of Allah's Help with our thinking, and accepts it and believes in it with His permission ('izn), then (s)he turns away, there won't be light, except as a lightning, too strong light for hearts' eyes.
As we warned in 639, we should not let our wealth and progeny to divert us from zikr-u-llah (reminding on Allah swt), we can become of losers. If we really think about this ayat we should see that indeed if we're forgetting about Him it's always because of seeiking for wealth and/or about our progeny. No zikr-u-llah leads to disbelief, which creates munafiqoon from mu'minoon.
Allah swt knows best and his examples are for the mankind, best of all examples. We won't find better ayats (signs) for others then His
And if their evasion is difficult for you, then if you are able to seek a tunnel into the earth or a stairway into the sky to bring them a sign, . But if Allah had willed, He would have united them upon guidance. So never be of the ignorant. (635, tr. Saheeh international)
Allah's bless and salam.