سورة البقرة

Ibn Abbas (may Allah have mercy on him): These three verses were revealed concerning the hypocrite/pretender (riya'kar), for he displays himself contrary to what is in his inner self. (What is meant is this verse and the two verses that follow.)

Imam al-Askari (peace be upon him): [In this verse, Allah] informs the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) of the state of people who outwardly display something whose opposite they conceal inwardly, and they commit disobedience to Allah, and He says: "O Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)! The speech of some people in this world causes you to wonder — they profess the religion of Islam and with great flourish display piety and sincerity."

Imam al-Sajjad (peace be upon him): If you see a person of goodly appearance who out of piety has chosen silence and whose humility is manifest in his movements, wait! Slowly! Do not let this outward appearance deceive you! For most of the people who are incapable of acquiring the world and committing forbidden acts, due to weakness of intention and cowardice of heart, [and who lack the ability to commit certain forbidden acts to enjoy the material world,] have made religion a trap and snare for their worldly gain [so that in the name of religion they may attain their worldly aims], and people are continually deceived by their outward appearance, and if they find the opportunity to commit a forbidden act, they will certainly commit it. And if you see him abstaining from unlawful wealth, wait! Slowly! Do not be deceived, for the desires of people are various! For the number of those who abstain from unlawful wealth is not large, however many they may appear outwardly. Yet they compel themselves to ugly deeds and commit forbidden acts. And if you see that they also abstain from these ugly deeds, still wait! Do not be deceived by them! Until you look thoroughly at the conviction of their heart. For all such people, in the end, do not return to a firm intellect. And [the number of] people who fall into corruption through ignorance is greater than the group who are set right through intellect. And if you find his intellect firm and steady, still wait and do not be deceived! See whether his desire follows his intellect, or his intellect follows his desire? And see how his reaction is toward false leaderships — positive or negative? For a group of people lose both this world and the hereafter; [they] abandoned the world for the world's sake, and preferred the pleasure of false leadership over the enjoyment of permissible and lawful wealth and blessings, and abandoned all of these (lawful pleasures) in pursuit of false leadership; to the point that if it is said to him: "Fear Allah!", his greed drives him to sin (the outward glory he attained through sin takes hold of him). Hell is enough for him, and what an evil resting place it is!

Imam Askari (peace be upon him): [meaning] he even calls Allah as witness over his own heart that "I am sincere and a monotheist, and my speech — that I do this and that — is true."

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): أَلَدُّ means enmity.

Imam Baqir (peace be upon him): Sa'd al-Iskaf narrated from Imam Baqir (peace be upon him) that: [They are the most violent of adversaries and] they quarrel and commit injustice. I said to him: "What does أَلَدّ mean?" He replied: "It means fierce enmity."