Here is what the verse says:
Arabic: فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌۭ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًۭا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
English meaning: *"In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy), and Allah has increased their disease. And grievous is the penalty they will incur, because they were false (to themselves)."* [Coran, Sourate Al-Baqara:10]
Let me explain what this verse teaches us:
This verse comes right after Allah describes the hypocrites (the *munafiqun*) in the opening verses of Al-Baqarah. The "disease" mentioned here refers to the spiritual sickness of doubt, hypocrisy, and insincerity that had settled in their hearts. Because they chose to persist in this sickness rather than seek healing through faith and truthfulness, Allah let it grow — a just consequence of their own choices.
The verse ends with a powerful warning: their punishment is painful *because they used to lie*. This shows us how serious dishonesty and hypocrisy are in Islam. Being truthful with Allah and with ourselves is a core part of faith.
A practical lesson: This verse invites us to examine our own hearts. Are we sincere in our worship, or do we sometimes say one thing and believe another? The cure for the "disease" of the heart is honesty, sincere repentance (*tawbah*), and consistent remembrance of Allah.
If you'd like to read this verse in its full context, you can open Surah Al-Baqarah in the Quran section of your Al Muslim Plus app and read from verse 8 onward to see the full description of the hypocrites.