وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسْمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَآءً وَنِدَآءً ۚ صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ 171
Translations
The example of those who disbelieve is like that of one who shouts at what hears nothing but calls and cries [i.e., cattle or sheep] - deaf, dumb and blind, so they do not understand.
Transliteration
Wa mathalu alladhina kafaroo kamathal alladhee yanAAiqu bima la yasmaAAu illa duwaa-an wa nidaa-an. Summun bukmun AAumyun fahum la yaAAqiloon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a parable of disbelievers, comparing them to livestock that hears only the sound of a shepherd's call without understanding its meaning—they are deaf, dumb, and blind to the signs of Allah and the message of the Quran. Ibn Kathir explains that the disbelievers reject divine guidance not from lack of clarity in the message, but from their own spiritual blindness and hardened hearts; they possess the faculties to understand yet refuse to use them. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this describes the complete spiritual incapacity of those who deny truth: they cannot perceive it (deaf), cannot articulate it (dumb), and cannot recognize it (blind).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Baqarah's discussion of different categories of people's responses to the Quranic message (verses 2:26-27 introduce parables, and verses 2:164-171 discuss those who reject despite clear signs). The surah was revealed in Madinah and addresses the Jewish tribes and hypocrites who rejected the Prophet's message despite intellectual capacity.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of the one who recites the Quran and does not act upon it is like the example of a green plant that has a pleasant smell but a bitter taste' (Tirmidhi). Related to the theme that understanding alone without acceptance is meaningless, similar to how animals hear sounds without comprehension.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that possessing the physical ability to hear or read the Quran is insufficient without sincere hearts open to guidance; believers should reflect on whether they hear the Quran with understanding and implement it, lest they resemble those described in this parable despite their external access to truth.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوا۟ ٱدْعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ يُبَيِّن لَّنَا مَا هِىَ ۚ قَالَ إِنَّهُۥ يَقُولُ إِنَّهَا بَقَرَةٌ لَّا فَارِضٌ وَلَا بِكْرٌ عَوَانٌۢ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ ۖ فَٱفْعَلُوا۟ مَا تُؤْمَرُونَ
They said, "Call upon your Lord to make clear to us what it is." [Moses] said, "[Allāh] says, 'It is a cow which is neither old nor virgin, but median between that,' so do what you are commanded."
وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْمِنُونَ بِمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ مِن قَبْلِكَ وَبِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ يُوقِنُونَ
And who believe in what has been revealed to you, [O Muḥammad], and what was revealed before you, and of the Hereafter they are certain [in faith].
قُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَيْنَا وَمَآ أُنزِلَ إِلَىٰٓ إِبْرَٰهِـۧمَ وَإِسْمَـٰعِيلَ وَإِسْحَـٰقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ وَٱلْأَسْبَاطِ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ مُوسَىٰ وَعِيسَىٰ وَمَآ أُوتِىَ ٱلنَّبِيُّونَ مِن رَّبِّهِمْ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُمْ وَنَحْنُ لَهُۥ مُسْلِمُونَ
Say, [O believers], "We have believed in Allāh and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants [al-Asbāṭ] and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."
وَعَلَّمَ ءَادَمَ ٱلْأَسْمَآءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ أَنۢبِـُٔونِى بِأَسْمَآءِ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful."