We mentioned that four Ayat in the beginning of Surat Al-Baqarah described the believers.
The two last Ayat (2:6-7) describe the disbelievers. Afterwards, Allah begins to
describe the hypocrites who show belief and hide disbelief. Since the matter of
the hypocrites is vague and many people do not realize their true reality, Allah
mentioned their description in detail. Each of the characteristics that Allah used
to described them with is a type of hypocrisy itself. Allah revealed Surat Bara'ah
(chapter 9) and Surat Al-Munafiqun (chapter 63) about the hypocrites. He also mentioned
the hypocrites in Surat An-Nur (24) and other Surahs, so that their description
would be known and their ways and errors could be avoided. Allah said,
﴿وَمِنَ النَّاسِ
مَن يَقُولُ ءَامَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الأْخِرِ وَمَا هُم بِمُؤْمِنِينَ -
يُخَـدِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إلاَّ أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا
يَشْعُرُونَ ﴾
(8. And of mankind, there are some who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day''
while in fact they do not believe). (9. They try to deceive Allah and those who
believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!)