ٱلَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِى غِطَآءٍ عَن ذِكْرِى وَكَانُوا۟ لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعًا 101
Translations
Those whose eyes had been within a cover [removed] from My remembrance, and they were not able to hear.
Transliteration
Alladhīna kānat a'yunuhum fī ghitā'in 'an dhikrī wa-kānū lā yastați'ūna sama'ā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those whose hearts are sealed and whose eyes are veiled from the remembrance of Allah (Qur'an), rendering them unable to truly hear or comprehend divine guidance. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as referring to those who deliberately turn away from Allah's signs and allow their disbelief to create a barrier between themselves and the truth, making them spiritually blind and deaf despite having physical faculties. The 'veil' (ghitā') represents the darkness of heedlessness that Allah places upon those who persistently reject His message.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the broader context of Surah Al-Kahf, which emphasizes themes of guidance versus misguidance and the consequences of rejecting divine truth. The surah uses the story of the People of the Cave to illustrate faith and protection from worldly trials, and this verse connects to the overarching theme of how some people become heedless despite the clarity of Allah's signs.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever Allah desires to guide, He opens his chest to Islam, and whoever He desires to leave astray, He makes his chest tight and constricted, as if he were climbing into the sky' (Sahih Muslim 2644). This hadith complements the ayah's description of sealed hearts and spiritual blindness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns us that persistent neglect of Allah's remembrance (dhikr) and rejection of His signs can lead to a spiritual condition where we lose the ability to perceive truth, making it essential to actively maintain our connection to Qur'an and Islamic guidance. It reminds believers that spiritual receptivity is not automatic but requires intentional engagement with divine truth and openness of heart.