بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى تَكْذِيبٍ 19
Translations
But they who disbelieve are in [persistent] denial,
Transliteration
Bal alladhīna kafarū fī takydhīb
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah states that those who disbelieve are engrossed in denial and rejection of the truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse emphasizes that the disbelievers are deeply entrenched in their stubborn rejection of Allah's signs and the message brought by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), choosing falsehood over guidance despite the clarity of divine evidence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the latter portion of Surah Al-Buruj, which is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islamic preaching when the Quraysh were actively opposing the Prophet's message. The surah as a whole addresses the rejection of the disbelievers and contains a powerful warning about the consequences of denying Allah's signs, with references to historical examples of those who rejected prophets before Muhammad.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The most hated person to Allah is a man with two faces; he comes to some people with one face and to others with another face.' (Sahih Bukhari 3495) - This relates thematically to the inconsistency and denial of truth. Additionally, the Quran mentions in Ayah 2:10: 'In their hearts is disease, so Allah has increased their disease' (Sahih Muslim) - emphasizing the hardening of hearts in disbelief.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that persistent denial of truth stems from a hardened heart, and serves as a warning against allowing oneself to become entrenched in falsehood. It encourages Muslims to remain open to divine guidance and to reflect on the signs of Allah rather than following blind rejection like those described in the verse.