وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ 25
Translations
And among them are those who listen to you, but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples."
Transliteration
Wa minhum man yastami'u ilayka wa ja'alna 'ala qulubihim akinnatan an yafqahuhu wa fi adhanihim waqran wa in yaraw kulla ayatin la yu'minun biha hatta idha ja'uka yujadilunaka yaqulul ladhina kafaru in hadha illa asatiru al-awwalin
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how some disbelievers listen to the Prophet's message but Allah has sealed their hearts with coverings (akinnah) and placed deafness in their ears, preventing them from understanding and believing regardless of the signs shown to them. Instead of accepting the truth, they come to argue with the Prophet, dismissing the Quran as merely the tales and legends of the ancients. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this spiritual sealing as a consequence of their own persistent rejection and hardened disbelief—Allah's seal follows their choice to turn away from truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-An'am, revealed in Mecca during a period of intense rejection by the Quraysh. It addresses the frustration the Prophet Muhammad experienced when presenting clear signs and evidence, yet encountering stubborn denial and mockery. The surah emphasizes that despite overwhelming proofs, some people's hearts remain sealed due to their own willful rejection of truth.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reflected in Sahih Muslim (2644) where the Prophet said, 'Allah does not look at your bodies or your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and your deeds.' This connects to how hearts are sealed based on one's intentions and choices. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari (4776) records that the Prophet described how revelation ceased partly due to people's abandonment of faith despite receiving clear signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that faith requires not just hearing the message, but an open heart willing to receive truth, and that Allah's guidance follows sincere seeking while rejection hardens the heart through one's own choices. It encourages introspection about our receptiveness to divine guidance and warns against the spiritual danger of persistent denial and argumentativeness toward truth.
Related Ayahs
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن طِينٍ ثُمَّ قَضَىٰٓ أَجَلًا ۖ وَأَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى عِندَهُۥ ۖ ثُمَّ أَنتُمْ تَمْتَرُونَ
It is He who created you from clay and then decreed a term and a specified time [known] to Him; then [still] you are in dispute.
أَن تَقُولُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَآ أُنزِلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبُ عَلَىٰ طَآئِفَتَيْنِ مِن قَبْلِنَا وَإِن كُنَّا عَن دِرَاسَتِهِمْ لَغَـٰفِلِينَ
[We revealed it] lest you say, "The Scripture was only sent down to two groups before us, but we were of their study unaware,"
۞ وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَٰهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ ءَازَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا ءَالِهَةً ۖ إِنِّىٓ أَرَىٰكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], when Abraham said to his father Āzar, "Do you take idols as deities? Indeed, I see you and your people to be in manifest error."
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا۟ مَالَ ٱلْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُۥ ۖ وَأَوْفُوا۟ ٱلْكَيْلَ وَٱلْمِيزَانَ بِٱلْقِسْطِ ۖ لَا نُكَلِّفُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا ۖ وَإِذَا قُلْتُمْ فَٱعْدِلُوا۟ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰ ۖ وَبِعَهْدِ ٱللَّهِ أَوْفُوا۟ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ وَصَّىٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
And do not approach the orphan's property except in a way that is best [i.e., intending improvement] until he reaches maturity. And give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except [with that within] its capacity. And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative. And the covenant of Allāh fulfill. This has He instructed you that you may remember.