وَمَآ أَنتَ بِهَـٰدِى ٱلْعُمْىِ عَن ضَلَـٰلَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ 81
Translations
And you cannot guide the blind away from their error. You will only make hear those who believe in Our verses so they are Muslims [i.e., submitting to Allāh].
Transliteration
Wa mā anta bi-hādi al-ʿumyi ʿan ḍalālātihim ⋮ In tusmīʿu illā man yuʾminu bi-āyātinā fa-hum muslimūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah clarifies that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) cannot guide those who are spiritually blind and unwilling to accept Allah's signs, emphasizing that true guidance only reaches those whose hearts are open to belief. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as addressing the futility of compelling disbelievers to faith—guidance is conditional upon the listener's receptiveness and sincere belief in Allah's revelations. The ayah reinforces that prophethood involves conveying the message clearly, while the acceptance of that message depends on the individual's willingness to submit to Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Naml (The Ant), a Meccan chapter dealing with prophethood, divine signs, and the consequences of rejection. It is contextually part of the broader Quranic theme addressing the Prophet's role when faced with stubborn disbelievers in Mecca, particularly those who rejected his message despite clear signs.
Related Hadiths
The principle is reflected in the hadith from Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of the guidance and the knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain falling on the earth, some of which is fertile soil that absorbs water and brings forth vegetation and pasture in abundance, and some of which is hard ground that holds the water; and Allah, by this similitude, explains to mankind the difference between them.' This illustrates how guidance benefits only receptive hearts.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should not despair if their sincere advice is rejected by others, as true guidance ultimately depends on Allah opening hearts—our responsibility is to convey the message clearly and with wisdom. This also reminds us to examine our own hearts to ensure we remain among those who listen to and believe in Allah's signs.