It has been narrated that a group of Meccans used to come to Medina visiting the prophet to play trick and deceit. They pretended to have been converts, but as soon as they returned back to Mecca they worshipped their idols and befriended the heathens and idolaters, thus trying to be secure f r o m both parties, and gain f r o m both sides. This verse was sent down to disclose their hidden tricks and to make clear what was to them.

TEMPTATION OF DOUBLE- DEALING      Here we meet with another class of people who are opposite to the aforesaid two classes. These are a treacherous, faithless, and unreliable people who cannot be left alone! For protecting their personal interests and advantages, they want to have freedom among the Monotheists, as well as the Polytheists. For reaching such a nasty optimum, they always have to play fast and loose with this and that! They try to win your confidence and are all the time in the confidence of your enemy! A treacherous friend is the most dangerous enemy. So you will have no other way but to treat them as open enemy. If they faithfully stop fighting you, and helping your foe; and offer you a real peace, so good, so well! But if they do not do that truthfully, they have openly given you proofs, and God has provided you with a clear authority over them, and you may seize them- take them as captives, or fight them and kill them if necessary.