وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 125
Translations
But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa-ammā alladhīna fī qulūbihim maraḍun fa-zādathum rijsan ilā rijsihim wa-mātu wa-hum kāfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the Quran and divine signs increase the spiritual disease (doubt, hypocrisy, and disbelief) already present in the hearts of those who reject faith, rather than healing them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'maraḍ' (disease of the heart) refers to the spiritual sickness of hypocrisy and disbelief, and these individuals die in a state of kufr (disbelief) because they deliberately turn away from guidance. The ayah emphasizes that revelation acts as a test—purifying the believers while condemning the disbelievers further into their spiritual corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9), which was revealed during the Medinan period and addresses the issue of hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who outwardly claimed belief while harboring disbelief in their hearts. The context specifically relates to the hypocrites' response to the Quranic verses and the Prophet's message—their rejection of truth compounds their spiritual sickness rather than curing it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Quran is either for you or against you,' narrated in various forms in hadith collections. Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the hypocrites whose hearts contained disease that prevented them from accepting faith, reflecting the concept described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns us that knowledge and exposure to truth without sincere hearts and willingness to accept guidance only increases our spiritual corruption. Modern readers should reflect on whether they approach divine revelation with open, sincere hearts seeking guidance, or with hearts already hardened by doubt and denial, understanding that our response to truth has eternal consequences.
Related Ayahs
ٱشْتَرَوْا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ ثَمَنًا قَلِيلًا فَصَدُّوا۟ عَن سَبِيلِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ سَآءَ مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
They have exchanged the signs of Allāh for a small price and averted [people] from His way. Indeed, it was evil that they were doing.
كَٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ كَانُوٓا۟ أَشَدَّ مِنكُمْ قُوَّةً وَأَكْثَرَ أَمْوَٰلًا وَأَوْلَـٰدًا فَٱسْتَمْتَعُوا۟ بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ فَٱسْتَمْتَعْتُم بِخَلَـٰقِكُمْ كَمَا ٱسْتَمْتَعَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُم بِخَلَـٰقِهِمْ وَخُضْتُمْ كَٱلَّذِى خَاضُوٓا۟ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ وَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰسِرُونَ
[You disbelievers are] like those before you; they were stronger than you in power and more abundant in wealth and children. They enjoyed their portion [of worldly enjoyment], and you have enjoyed your portion as those before you enjoyed their portion, and you have engaged [in vanities] like that in which they engaged. [It is] those whose deeds have become worthless in this world and in the Hereafter, and it is they who are the losers.
كَيْفَ يَكُونُ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ عَهْدٌ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَعِندَ رَسُولِهِۦٓ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّمْ عِندَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ ۖ فَمَا ٱسْتَقَـٰمُوا۟ لَكُمْ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوا۟ لَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
How can there be for the polytheists a treaty in the sight of Allāh and with His Messenger, except for those with whom you made a treaty at al-Masjid al-Ḥarām? So as long as they are upright toward you, be upright toward them. Indeed, Allāh loves the righteous [who fear Him].
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ عَـٰهَدتُّم مِّنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَنقُصُوكُمْ شَيْـًٔا وَلَمْ يُظَـٰهِرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ أَحَدًا فَأَتِمُّوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ عَهْدَهُمْ إِلَىٰ مُدَّتِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Excepted are those with whom you made a treaty among the polytheists and then they have not been deficient toward you in anything or supported anyone against you; so complete for them their treaty until their term [has ended]. Indeed, Allāh loves the righteous [who fear Him].