فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ 10
Translations
In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.
Transliteration
Fī qulūbihim maraḍun fa-zādahumu -llāhu maraḍan wa-lahum ʿadhābun alīmun bimā kānū yakthibūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how those who harbor disbelief and hypocrisy in their hearts suffer from spiritual disease (maraḍ), which Allah increases as a consequence of their obstinacy and rejection of truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring primarily to the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) during the Prophet's time, whose hearts became progressively hardened and closed to faith due to their persistent denial and deception. The 'painful punishment' mentioned is both a spiritual reality in this life and an eternal consequence in the Hereafter for those who continue to lie and reject divine guidance.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (verses 1-20) which describes the characteristics of believers, disbelievers, and hypocrites in Medina after the Prophet's migration. It specifically addresses the condition of the hypocrites who outwardly professed Islam while concealing disbelief in their hearts, a phenomenon unique to the Medinan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'Verily, when the servant commits a sin, a black spot appears upon his heart; and if he repents and turns back [to Allah], his heart is cleansed.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2567). This relates to how sins accumulate and harden the heart unless there is repentance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that persistent rejection of truth and deliberate deception do not go unnoticed by Allah; rather, they result in progressive spiritual degradation where the heart becomes increasingly sealed to guidance. For believers, it serves as a reminder of the importance of sincerity (ikhlāṣ) and maintaining an open, receptive heart to divine guidance.
Related Ayahs
وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
And fight in the cause of Allāh and know that Allāh is Hearing and Knowing.
كَانَ ٱلنَّاسُ أُمَّةً وَٰحِدَةً فَبَعَثَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلنَّبِيِّـۧنَ مُبَشِّرِينَ وَمُنذِرِينَ وَأَنزَلَ مَعَهُمُ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ بِٱلْحَقِّ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ ٱلنَّاسِ فِيمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ ۚ وَمَا ٱخْتَلَفَ فِيهِ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوهُ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا جَآءَتْهُمُ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ بَغْيًۢا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ فَهَدَى ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ لِمَا ٱخْتَلَفُوا۟ فِيهِ مِنَ ٱلْحَقِّ بِإِذْنِهِۦ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allāh sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over it [i.e., the Scripture] except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allāh guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allāh guides whom He wills to a straight path.
نِسَآؤُكُمْ حَرْثٌ لَّكُمْ فَأْتُوا۟ حَرْثَكُمْ أَنَّىٰ شِئْتُمْ ۖ وَقَدِّمُوا۟ لِأَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ وَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّكُم مُّلَـٰقُوهُ ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
Your wives are a place of cultivation [i.e., sowing of seed] for you, so come to your place of cultivation however you wish and put forth [righteousness] for yourselves. And fear Allāh and know that you will meet Him. And give good tidings to the believers.
وَإِذْ قَالَ مُوسَىٰ لِقَوْمِهِۦٓ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَذْبَحُوا۟ بَقَرَةً ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَتَّخِذُنَا هُزُوًا ۖ قَالَ أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ أَنْ أَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَـٰهِلِينَ
And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "Indeed, Allāh commands you to slaughter a cow." They said, "Do you take us in ridicule?" He said, "I seek refuge in Allāh from being among the ignorant."