They are the hypocrites: they would attend the gathering of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and hear his words but not comprehend them, and they would only show him disdain. When they left, they would say to the knowledgeable among the companions, 'What did he say just now?' in a mocking manner. It was said that he would be giving a sermon, and when he criticized the hypocrites, they would leave and say that to the scholars. It was said: they said this to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud. And from Ibn Abbas: I am one of them, and I was mentioned among those who were asked recently, and it was recited: 'anfa' in the form of a verb, in the accusative case as an adverb. [The phrase 'and it was recited: anfa in the form of a verb in the accusative case as an adverb' likely means: with a vowel on the letter 'a'.] Al-Zajjaj said: It is from 'istaanifta' meaning: if you begin something. And the meaning is: What did he say at the first time that is close to us.