أَوَلَمْ يَهْدِ لِلَّذِينَ يَرِثُونَ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ أَهْلِهَآ أَن لَّوْ نَشَآءُ أَصَبْنَـٰهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ ۚ وَنَطْبَعُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ 100
Translations
Has it not become clear to those who inherited the earth after its [previous] people that if We willed, We could afflict them for their sins? But We seal over their hearts so they do not hear.
Transliteration
Awa lam yahdi lilladhina yarithoona al-arda min ba'di ahlihaa an law nasha'a asabnahum bidhunoobihim wa natba'u 'ala quloobihim fahum la yasma'oon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses those who inherit the earth after previous nations were destroyed, warning them that Allah could punish them for their sins just as He punished their predecessors. Ibn Kathir explains that the 'sealing of hearts' (طبع على القلوب) is a consequence of persistent rejection and disobedience, resulting in spiritual deafness that prevents them from receiving guidance. The verse serves as a stern admonition to learn from history and the fate of previous nations, lest the same destruction befall the current generation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-A'raf, which extensively discusses the stories of previous nations and their destruction due to disobedience. It fits within the broader theme of the surah (verses 59-171) where Allah recounts how He sent messengers to various peoples, and how those who rejected them were destroyed, leaving their lands for others to inherit. The ayah directly addresses the Quraysh and other Arabs who witnessed the ruins of destroyed civilizations around them.
Related Hadiths
The concept of heart-sealing is referenced in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When a slave commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart, and if he repents, his heart is cleansed, but if he continues, the spot increases until it covers his whole heart.' Also relevant is the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah about how persistent sin leads to spiritual blindness and deafness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that history's ruins are tangible reminders of Allah's justice—those who inherit wealth and power must examine their own conduct lest they repeat the mistakes of their predecessors. It emphasizes that the path to spiritual destruction begins with persistent sin, which hardens the heart and seals it from receiving truth, making it incumbent upon believers to remain vigilant against disobedience.