believe? now surely they themselves are the fools, but they do not know
Verse 2:14 (See article 21) says: when they meet those who believe, they say, ‘we, too believe. ‘ but when they are alone with their devils, they say to them: ‘we follow none but you, we were only mocking
Verse 2:15 (See article 22) says: Allah shall pay them back their mockery, and he leaves them alone in their inordinacy, blindly wandering on.
Verse 2:16 (See article 23) says: these are they who have bartered guidance for error: but their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction,
Verse 2:17 (See article 24) says: their parable is like the parable of one who kindled a fire but when it had illumined all around him, Allah took away their light, and left them in utter darkness; they do not see.
Verse 2:18 (See article 25) says: deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).
Verse 2:19 says: or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder and the flash of lightning. they thrust their fingers in their ears by reason of the thunder-claps, for fear of death, Allah encompasses the disbelievers (in his guidance, his omniscience and his omnipotence).
Verse 2:20 continues talking about the hypocrites; and says: the lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes upon them they walk on, but as soon as it darkens they stand still. indeed, if Allah willed, he could take away their sight and hearing. Allah has power over all things.
The meaning of verse 2:20:
The lightning almost snatches away their sight from them, i.e. from the hypocrites. Similarly, the exposition of the Quran almost snatched away their error.