لَقَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا سُكِّرَتْ أَبْصَـٰرُنَا بَلْ نَحْنُ قَوْمٌ مَّسْحُورُونَ 15
Translations
They would say, "Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic."
Transliteration
Laqalū innamā sukkirat absārunā bal naḥnu qawmun masḥūrūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the disbelieving Quraysh's response to the miraculous signs shown to them, claiming their eyes have been dazzled or covered and attributing the phenomenon to magic cast upon them rather than acknowledging divine truth. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the disbelievers' insistence on attributing clear signs to sorcery demonstrates their willful rejection and spiritual blindness—they refuse to see reality as it is presented before them, preferring instead to rationalize away the truth through false explanations.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within Surah Al-Hijr's broader discussion of how the disbelievers of Mecca responded to the Prophet's message and the signs of Allah. The context addresses the obstinacy of those who witnessed the Prophet's miracles and clear preaching yet persisted in denial, attributing divine signs to magic or witchcraft rather than accepting the truth.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Muslim records that the Prophet (ﷺ) said regarding those who turn away from signs: 'The heart becomes sealed when one repeatedly rejects the truth.' Additionally, the theme of wilful blindness to signs is discussed in various ahadith about the characteristics of those who reject faith despite clear evidence.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that clear evidence and miraculous signs alone cannot guide those whose hearts are sealed by arrogance and prejudice; true guidance requires sincere openness of heart. It also warns against the danger of rationalizing away truth through false explanations when confronted with undeniable reality.