مَا يَأْتِيهِم مِّن ذِكْرٍ مِّن رَّبِّهِم مُّحْدَثٍ إِلَّا ٱسْتَمَعُوهُ وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ 2
Translations
No mention [i.e., revelation] comes to them anew from their Lord except that they listen to it while they are at play
Transliteration
Mā yātīhim min dhikrin min rabbihim muḥdathin illā stamaʿūhu wa-hum yalʿabūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the disbelievers of Mecca received every new revelation from their Lord with carelessness and mockery, listening to it while engaged in play and frivolous activities. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that despite hearing the clear message of the Qur'an, their hearts remained heedless and unmoved due to their arrogance and spiritual blindness. The ayah underscores the tragic reality that external hearing does not guarantee understanding or acceptance when the heart is sealed by disbelief and negligence.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan chapter that discusses the mockery and rejection faced by the Prophet Muhammad and previous prophets. It reflects the historical reality of the Meccan polytheists who, despite their proximity to the revelation, treated it with contempt and distraction rather than genuine contemplation.
Related Hadiths
The Qur'an states in Surah Al-A'raf (7:204-205) regarding listening to the Qur'an: 'And when the Qur'an is recited, listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.' This is thematically related as it contrasts the proper response to revelation with the heedless response described in 21:2. Additionally, Surah Al-Anfal (8:2) praises those 'whose hearts tremble when Allah is mentioned.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that merely hearing the Word of God is insufficient without genuine attention, reverence, and openness of heart; believers must approach divine guidance with seriousness and contemplation rather than distraction, understanding that carelessness in matters of faith can lead to spiritual loss despite having access to truth.