وَإِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ لَا يَذْكُرُونَ 13
Translations
And when they are reminded, they remember not.
Transliteration
Wa-idha dhukkiroo laa yadhkuroon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the stubborn refusal of the disbelievers to heed reminders and admonitions about Allah's signs and the message of the Prophet. When they are reminded of the truth, they deliberately turn away and refuse to remember or reflect upon it, demonstrating their willful ignorance and hardened hearts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this reflects a psychological state where the disbelievers have chosen to seal their hearts against guidance, making them unreceptive despite clear reminders.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within the Meccan surah As-Saffat, which deals with themes of monotheism, resurrection, and the fate of disbelievers. Verse 13 is part of a broader passage (37:10-15) describing the characteristics of the deniers in Mecca who rejected the Qur'an and the prophethood of Muhammad despite repeated reminders and clear signs.
Related Hadiths
Related to the theme of hearts being sealed: 'The Prophet ﷺ said, "When the servant commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. When he repents, it is polished away. If he returns to sin, the spot increases until it covers his whole heart." (Sunan At-Tirmidhi 3334) - illustrating how rejection and sin harden the heart against remembrance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that repeated reminders alone cannot benefit those whose hearts are sealed by their own rejection; spiritual receptivity requires an open heart and sincere willingness to accept the truth. For believers, it serves as a reminder to remain humbly receptive to divine guidance and to seek sincere repentance before the heart becomes hardened.