9. They seek to deceive Allah and the believers, but they deceive none except themselves, though they do not realise it.*

* There is an omitted and inherent co-related noun (al-mudaf al-mahdhuf), which is referred to the Messenger (al-Rasul). The words ‘they seek to deceive Allah’ in fact, denote ‘they seek to deceive the Messenger of Allah’. Most of the leading authorities of tafsir have drawn the same meaning. See: Tafsir al-Qurtubi, al-Baydawi, al-Baghawi, al-Nasafi, al-Kashshaf, al-Mazhari, Zad al-Masir, al-Khazin, et al.

يخادعون الله والذين آمنوا وما يخدعون إلا أنفسهم وما يشعرون