إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَوَآءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ ءَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 6
Translations
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.
Transliteration
Inna alladhina kafaroo sawaa'un alayihim a'andhartahum am lam tundhirhum laa yu'minoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that those who have disbelieved will not believe whether the Prophet warns them or not, as their hearts are sealed and they have turned away from guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as describing the state of those whose rejection is absolute and whose hearts have been hardened due to their persistent denial of truth. The equality mentioned (sawaa') emphasizes that external warnings make no difference to those whose internal condition is one of deliberate rejection and spiritual blindness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (ayah 1-20), which describes three categories of people: believers, disbelievers, and hypocrites. While there is no specific asbab al-nuzul recorded for this particular verse, it is thematically connected to the Meccan period's struggle with those who rejected the Prophet's message despite clear signs and warnings. It provides general guidance about the nature of those whose disbelief is final and absolute.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his heart to Islam; and whoever He wills to leave astray, He makes his heart tight and constricted as though he is climbing up to the sky' (Sahih Muslim 2644). This hadith relates to the concept of sealed hearts mentioned in this context.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that while we are responsible for conveying the message of truth, the acceptance or rejection of faith ultimately depends on Allah's will and the individual's internal willingness to accept guidance. For believers, this provides comfort that our efforts are in fulfilling our duty, not in guaranteeing others' belief, freeing us from despair when facing rejection.