خَتَمَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ غِشَـٰوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ 7
Translations
Allāh has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment.
Transliteration
Khatama Allahu ala qulubihim wa ala samihim wa ala absarihim ghishawatun wa lahum adhab azim
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the spiritual sealing of the hearts, ears, and eyes of those who persistently reject Allah's signs and turn away from faith. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this sealing is a consequence of their own rejection and hardening of hearts—it is both a punishment and a natural result of their disbelief. The 'ghishawah' (covering/veil) over their vision represents the spiritual blindness that afflicts those who refuse divine guidance, resulting in severe punishment in the Hereafter.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (verses 1-7) describing the characteristics of the disbelievers (al-kafirun). It follows immediately after the description of the believers, establishing a thematic contrast. The context speaks to those who witnessed the Quran's clear signs yet chose disbelief, particularly referring to certain groups among the Meccan disbelievers and some of the hypocrites (munafiqun) of Medina.
Related Hadiths
The concept of sealed hearts is referenced in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentions that when a person persists in sin, a black spot appears on the heart, and with continued transgression, the entire heart becomes sealed. Additionally, Surah An-Nahl (16:108) discusses similar sealing as a consequence of rejection.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah emphasizes that rejection of truth leads to progressive spiritual darkness—the more one turns away from divine guidance, the harder the heart becomes until it is sealed from perceiving truth. For believers, it serves as a warning to remain receptive to Allah's signs and not allow materialism or arrogance to harden the heart against His message.
Related Ayahs
وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِذَا ذَكَرْتَ رَبَّكَ فِى ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَلَّوْا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَـٰرِهِمْ نُفُورًا
And We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Qur’ān, they turn back in aversion.
فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌۢ بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَكْذِبُونَ
In their hearts is disease, so Allāh has increased their disease; and for them is a painful punishment because they [habitually] used to lie.
وَقَالَ فِرْعَوْنُ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْمَلَأُ مَا عَلِمْتُ لَكُم مِّنْ إِلَـٰهٍ غَيْرِى فَأَوْقِدْ لِى يَـٰهَـٰمَـٰنُ عَلَى ٱلطِّينِ فَٱجْعَل لِّى صَرْحًا لَّعَلِّىٓ أَطَّلِعُ إِلَىٰٓ إِلَـٰهِ مُوسَىٰ وَإِنِّى لَأَظُنُّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And Pharaoh said, "O eminent ones, I have not known you to have a god other than me. Then ignite for me, O Hāmān, [a fire] upon the clay and make for me a tower that I may look at the God of Moses. And indeed, I do think he is among the liars."