Here the immediate reference is to two groups of people on account of their faith and fidelity:ِ

      1- Those who are arrested and persecuted by their cruel enemy, and in order to rescue themselves from the deadly tortures, only with the tip of their tongue, they utter what the enemy dictates, which might be construed as recantation and rejection of faith. This is while heart is sure and stable in their faith, and they have not wavered the least. There is no blame on them, and their action is even praiseworthy, because in Islamic terms, it is called, ``DISSEMBLANCE'' which is a religious virtue. It is to conceal the real fact, motive, or feeling, by pretence for the protection of a higher object and purpose.

      2- The second group are those who deliberately have opened the windows of their heart on the evil and blasphemy and have changed their course and direction on purpose. These have incurred the wrath of Allah upon themselves. They are deprived of God's Grace and Mercy.

      The next verse (NO.107) gives reason for their being apostate by saying:ِ

      ``That is because they loved the life of this world more than the life to come.''

      And how should Allah guide a people who prefer to be unbeliever, and delibrately reject God's Mercy of Guidance? When they converted, and joined Islam, perhaps they lost a little of their secular privileges, and for that trifle, they recanted! This recantation of them, made Allah to set a seal upon their hearts and put a veil upon their ears and eyes, so that they lost their sense of sight and hearing of truth. This was a penalty for their negligence. In other word, the seal and veil was the natural effect of their sins and rebellion.

      Then there comes the next verse (NO.110), to make clear the fate of those apostate who repent and return:ِ

      ``Then, verily to those who emigrated after being seduced and they then strived (IN JIHAD) and showed patience; after that, your Lord is all forgiving, compassionate.''

      This verse implies that an apostate can be forgiven if he repents and returns to belief and good deeds.