وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا صُمٌّ وَبُكْمٌ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ ۗ مَن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يُضْلِلْهُ وَمَن يَشَأْ يَجْعَلْهُ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ 39
Translations
But those who deny Our verses are deaf and dumb within darknesses. Whomever Allāh wills - He sends astray; and whomever He wills - He puts him on a straight path.
Transliteration
Wa alladhīna kadhdhabo bi-āyātinā summun wa bukmun fī adh-dhulumāt; man yashā allāhu yudhlilhu wa man yasha' yaj'alhu 'alā sirātin mustaqīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who reject Allah's signs as being spiritually deaf, dumb, and in darkness—unable to perceive or communicate divine truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this is metaphorical blindness and deafness of the heart rather than physical disability, indicating their willful rejection and spiritual deprivation. The ayah emphasizes that Allah's guidance and misguidance are ultimately determined by His will, though this operates within the framework of human choice and responsibility—those who persistently reject signs choose their own destruction.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-An'am, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islamic da'wah when the Quraysh were actively rejecting the Prophet Muhammad's message. The broader context addresses the rejection of the Prophet's signs and warnings, establishing the spiritual consequences of deliberate denial of divine truth.
Related Hadiths
The hadith 'Whoever Allah wishes to guide, He opens his chest to Islam; and whoever He wishes to leave astray, He makes his chest tight and constricted' (Sahih Muslim 2644) expounds the principle of divine guidance mentioned here. Additionally, the hadith 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027) relates to the importance of receiving and responding to divine signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that rejecting divine guidance leads to spiritual darkness and loss of understanding, while sincere seeking of truth opens one's heart to wisdom. We should constantly examine our receptiveness to Allah's signs and guard against the arrogance that leads to willful blindness.