They were in doubt about the religion and hypocrisy, and the people were hypocrites. What drove them to build that mosque was their disbelief and hypocrisy, as Allah, the Exalted, said: 'as a harm and disbelief.' So when the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, demolished it, they increased - due to their anger over that and how great it was upon them - in their determination towards hypocrisy and their hatred for Islam. The meaning of His saying 'their building which they built will continue to be a source of doubt in their hearts' is that its demolition remains a cause of additional doubt and hypocrisy beyond their existing doubt and hypocrisy, which will not be removed and its effect will not diminish except if their hearts are completely torn apart and their parts scattered. Then they will be free from it. As long as they are safe and united, doubt remains entrenched in them. It is possible that the mention of tearing apart is a depiction of the state of the removal of doubt from them. It is also possible that it refers to the actual tearing apart of their hearts, whether by killing them, or in the graves, or in the Fire. And it was recited: 'they will be cut off,' with a 'ya.' And 'they will be cut off,' with a lightening of the letters. And 'they will be cut off,' with an opening of the 'ta,' meaning they will be severed. And 'their hearts will be cut off,' on the condition that the address is to the Messenger, meaning unless you cut off their hearts by killing them. Al-Hasan recited: 'until they are cut off.' And in the recitation of Abdullah: 'even if their hearts are cut off.' And from Talha: 'even if their hearts are cut off,' addressing either the Messenger or any addressee. It is said: its meaning is unless they repent with a repentance that tears their hearts due to regret and sorrow for their negligence.