Allah admonishes the hypocrites who, unlike the believers, who enjoin righteousness and forbid evil,

[يَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمُنكَرِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَقْبِضُونَ أَيْدِيَهُمْ]

(they enjoin evil, and forbid the good, and they close their hands), from spending in Allah's cause,

[نَسُواْ اللَّهَ]

(They have forgotten Allah), they have forgotten the remembrance of Allah,

[فَنَسِيَهُمْ]

(so He has forgotten them.), by treating them as if He has forgotten them. Allah also,

[وَقِيلَ الْيَوْمَ نَنسَاكُمْ كَمَا نَسِيتُمْ لِقَآءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـذَا]

(And it will be said: "This Day We will forget you as you forgot the meeting of this Day of yours) [45:34]. Allah said,

[إِنَّ الْمُنَـفِقِينَ هُمُ الْفَـسِقُونَ]

(Verily, the hypocrites are the rebellious) the rebellious from the way of truth who embrace the wicked way,

[وَعَدَ الله الْمُنَـفِقِينَ وَالْمُنَـفِقَاتِ وَالْكُفَّارَ نَارَ جَهَنَّمَ]

(Allah has promised the hypocrites -- men and women -- and the disbelievers, the fire of Hell), on account of their evildoing mentioned here,

[خَـلِدِينَ فِيهَآ]

(therein shall they abide.), for eternity, they and the disbelievers,

[هِىَ حَسْبُهُمْ]

(It will suffice them.), as a torment,

[وَلَعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ]

(Allah has cursed them), He expelled and banished them [from His mercy],

[وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ مُّقِيمٌ]

(and for them is the lasting torment.)

[كَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُواْ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَلاً وَأَوْلَـدًا فَاسْتَمْتَعُواْ بِخَلَـقِهِمْ فَاسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِخَلـقِكُمْ كَمَا اسْتَمْتَعَ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ بِخَلَـقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَالَّذِي خَاضُواْ أُوْلَـئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ فِي الدنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ ]

(69. Like those before you: they were mightier than you in power, and more abundant in wealth and children. They had enjoyed their portion (a while), so enjoy your portion (a while) as those before you enjoyed their portion (a while); and you indulged in play and pastime as they indulged in play and pastime. Such are they whose deeds are in vain in this world and in the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers.) Allah says, these people were touched by torment in this life and the Hereafter, just as those before them. Allah's statement,

[بِخَلَـقِهِمْ]

(their portion), means, [they mocked] their religion, according to Al-Hasan Al-Basri. Allah's statement,

[وَخُضْتُمْ كَالَّذِي خَاضُواْ]

(and you indulged in play and pastime as they indulged in play and pastime), indulged in lies and falsehood,

[أُوْلَـئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـلُهُمْ]

(Such are they whose deeds are in vain), their deeds are annulled; they will not acquire any rewards for them because they are invalid,

[فِي الدنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْخَـسِرُونَ]

(in this world and in the Hereafter. Such are they who are the losers.) because they will not acquire any rewards for their actions. Ibn `Abbas commented, "How similar is this night to the last night,

[كَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ]

(Like those before you...) These are the Children of Israel, with whom we were compared. The Prophet said,

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَتَّبِعُنَّهُمْ حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ مِنْهُمْ جُحْرَ ضَبَ لَدَخَلْتُمُوه»

(By He in Whose Hand is my life! You will imitate them, and even if a man of them entered the den of a lizard, you will enter it likewise!)'' Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Messenger of Allah said,

«وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَتَتَّبِعُنَّ سَنَنَ الَّذِينَ مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ شِبْرًا بِشِبْرٍ وَذِرَاعًا بِذِرَاعٍ، وَبَاعًا بِبَاعٍ حَتَّى لَوْ دَخَلُوا جُحْرَ ضَبَ لَدَخَلْتُمُوه»

قالوا: ومن هم يا رسول الله، أهل الكتاب؟ قال:

«فَمَنْ؟»

(By He in Whose Hand is my soul! You will follow the traditions of those who were before you a hand span for a hand-span and forearm's length for forearm's length, and an arm's length for an arm's length. And even if they enter the den of a lizard, you will also enter it.) They asked, "Who, O Allah's Messenger, the People of the Book'' He said, (Who else)'' This Hadith is similar to another Hadith collected in the Sahih.

[أَلَمْ يَأْتِهِمْ نَبَأُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ قَوْمِ نُوحٍ وَعَادٍ وَثَمُودَ وَقَوْمِ إِبْرَهِيمَ وِأَصْحَـبِ مَدْيَنَ وَالْمُؤْتَفِكَـتِ أَتَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ بِالْبَيِّنَـتِ فَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيَظْلِمَهُمْ وَلَـكِن كَانُواْ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ ]

(70. Has not the story reached them of those before them -- The people of Nuh,`Ad, Thamud, the people of Ibrahim, the dwellers of Madyan and the overturned cities; to them came their Messengers with clear proofs. So it was not Allah Who wronged them, but they used to wrong themselves.)