Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
Sahih International · EN
Ils ressemblent à quelqu'un qui a allumé un feu; puis quand le feu a illuminé tout à l'entour, Allah a fait disparaître leur lumière et les a abandonnés dans les ténèbres où ils ne voient plus rien.
Muhammad Hamidullah · FR
Tafsir
They are like someone who lights a fire, but when it has lit up what is around him, Allah takes away the light from the flames: leaving them in the darkness, unable to see. Allah shows us what the hypocrites are like with two examples: one related to fire, and the other to water. In the example related to fire, He compares them to someone who lights a fire to illuminate things, but when it is lit and he thinks he will benefit from its light, it goes out, smoldering and leaving him in the dark. Such people then remain in the dark, unable to see anything or find a way.
Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · Tafsir Center for Quranic StudiesRead Ibn Kathir (Ibn Kathir (abridged, English))
Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it illuminated all around him, Allah removed their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see (17)They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the right path)(18)
The Example of the Hypocrites
Allah likened the hypocrites when they bought deviation with guidance, thus acquiring utter blindness, to the example of a person who started a fire. When the fire was lit, and illumnitated the surrounding area, the person benefited from it and felt safe. Then the fire was suddenly extinguished. Therefore, total darkness covered this person, and he became unable to see anything or find his way out of it. Further, this person could not hear or speak and became so blind that even if there were light, he would not be able to see. This is why he cannot return to the state that he was in before this happened to him. Such is the case with the hypocrites who preferred misguidance over guidance, deviation over righteousness. This parable indicates that the hypocrites first believed, then disbelieved, just as Allah stated in other parts of the Qur'an.
Allah's statement,
ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ
(Allah removed their light) means, Allah removed what benefits them, and this is the light, and He left them with what harms them, that is, the darkness and smoke. Allah said,
وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَـٰتٍ
(And left them in darkness), that is their doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy.
لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ
((So) they could not see) meaning, they are unable to find the correct path or find its direction. In addition, they are,
صُمٌّ
(deaf) and thus cannot hear the guidance,
بُكْمٌ
(dumb) and cannot utter the words that might benefit them,
عُمْيٌ
(and blind) in total darkness and deviation. Similarly, Allah said,
فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ
(Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind)(22:46) and this why they cannot get back to the state of guidance that they were in, since they sold it for misguidance.
Arabic text: Tanzil (Uthmani). Translations: Sahih International (en), Muhammad Hamidullah (fr). tanzil.net