(Hast thou not observed) O Muhammad (those who are hypocrites) those who are double-faced in their religion: these were a group of people from the Aws tribe who claimed to be believers in the open but were disbelievers in private, ((how) they tell) in private (their brethren who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture) i.e. Banu Qurayzah; they said to them when they were surrounded by the Prophet (pbuh) “Remain firm in your faith inside your strongholds”: (If ye are driven out) from Medina as were driven out the Banu'l-Nadir, (we surely will go out with you, and we will never obey anyone against you) and we will not help anyone in Medina against you, (and if ye are attacked) by the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions (we verily will help you) against them. (And Allah beareth witness) and Allah knows (that they) i.e. the hypocrites (verily are liars) they lie in what they say.