The Meaning of 'Disease' in this Ayah

As-Suddi narrated from Abu Malik and (also) from Abu Salih, from Ibn 'Abbas, and (also) Murrah Al-Hamdani from Ibn Mas'ud and other Companions that this Ayah, {In their hearts is a disease} means, 'doubt', and, {And Allah has increased their disease} also means 'doubt'. Mujahid, 'Ikrimah, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Abu Al-'Aliyah, Ar-Rabi' bin Anas and Qatadah also said similarly. 'Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam commented on, {In their hearts is a disease}, "A disease in the religion, not a physical disease. They are the hypocrites and the disease is the doubt that they brought to Islam. {And Allah has increased their disease} meaning, increased them in shameful behavior." He also recited, {As for those who believe, it has increased their faith, and they rejoice. But as for those in whose hearts is a disease, it will add disgrace to their disgrace.} and commented, "Evil to their evil and deviation to their deviation." This statement by 'Abdur-Rahman is true, and it constitutes a punishment that is compatible to the sin, just as the earlier scholars stated. Similarly, Allah said, {While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and grants them their piety}.

Allah said next, {Because they used to tell lies}. The hypocrites have two characteristics, they lie and they deny the Unseen.

The scholars who stated that the Prophet knew the hypocrites of his time have only the Hadith of Hudhayfah bin Al-Yaman as evidence. In it the Prophet gave him the names of fourteen hypocrites during the battle of Tabuk. These hypocrites plotted to assassinate the Prophet during the night on a hill in that area. They planned to excite the Prophet's camel, so that she would throw him down the hill. Allah informed the Prophet about their plot, and the Prophet told Hudhayfah their names.

As for the other hypocrites, Allah said about them, 'I was given the choice (to pray for him or not), so I chose.' In another narration, the Prophet said, "If I knew that by asking (Allah to forgive Ibn Salul) more than seventy times that He would forgive him, then I would do that."