وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ ءَاذَانٌ لَّا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَآ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْغَـٰفِلُونَ 179
Translations
And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like livestock; rather, they are more astray. It is they who are the heedless.
Transliteration
Wa-laqad dhara'na li-jahannama katheeran min-al-jinni wa-al-insi lahum quloobun la yafqahoona biha wa-lahum a'yunun la yubsiroona biha wa-lahum aadhanun la yasma'oona biha ula'ika ka-al-an'ami bal hum adall ula'ika hum al-ghafilooun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah warns that Allah has created many from both jinn and mankind destined for Hell due to their willful rejection of truth and guidance. Despite possessing hearts, eyes, and ears—the faculties for understanding, perceiving, and hearing—they refuse to use them spiritually, rendering them worse than cattle in their heedlessness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this refers to those who have the capacity for comprehension but deliberately turn away from signs of Allah, making them responsible for their misguidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-A'raf (Meccan period), which extensively addresses the rejection of prophetic messages and the consequences of turning away from divine guidance. It follows discussions of those who refused to believe in previous prophets, establishing a thematic pattern of human rejection of truth throughout the surah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The worst of creatures in the sight of Allah are the deaf and dumb who do not use their intellect' (related to understanding Divine signs). Also relevant: Hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet mentioned that on the Day of Judgment, some will be raised blind, asking 'Why have you raised me blind?' referring to those who ignored signs while having capacity to understand.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that merely possessing intellect, sight, and hearing is insufficient—we must actively use these blessings to reflect upon Divine signs and obey Allah's guidance. Our greatest danger lies not in inability to understand, but in willful negligence and choosing to ignore the truth available to us.
Related Ayahs
أَفَأَمِنُوا۟ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلْقَوْمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
Then, did they feel secure from the plan of Allāh? But no one feels secure from the plan of Allāh except the losing people.
۞ وَٱكْتُبْ لَنَا فِى هَـٰذِهِ ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ إِنَّا هُدْنَآ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنْ أَشَآءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
And decree for us in this world [that which is] good and [also] in the Hereafter; indeed, we have turned back to You." [Allāh] said, "My punishment - I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things." So I will decree it [especially] for those who fear Me and give zakāh and those who believe in Our verses-
فَلَمَّا نَسُوا۟ مَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِهِۦٓ أَنجَيْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ ٱلسُّوٓءِ وَأَخَذْنَا ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ بِعَذَابٍۭ بَـِٔيسٍۭ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَفْسُقُونَ
And when they [i.e., those advised] forgot that by which they had been reminded, We saved those who had forbidden evil and seized those who wronged, with a wretched punishment, because they were defiantly disobeying.
قَالُوٓا۟ أَرْجِهْ وَأَخَاهُ وَأَرْسِلْ فِى ٱلْمَدَآئِنِ حَـٰشِرِينَ
They said, "Postpone [the matter of] him and his brother and send among the cities gatherers