وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ هَلْ يَرَىٰكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ ٱنصَرَفُوا۟ ۚ صَرَفَ ٱللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُم بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ 127
Translations
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, they look at each other, [as if saying], "Does anyone see you?" and then they dismiss themselves. Allāh has dismissed their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.
Transliteration
Wa-idha ma unzilat sūratun naẓara baʿḍuhum ilā baʿḍin hal yarāykum min aḥad thumma inṣarafū. Sarafa-llāhu qulūbahum bi-annahum qawmun lā yafqahūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the hypocrisy of certain people (the munāfiqūn) who, when Quranic verses were recited, would glance at each other mockingly to ensure no one was watching them before departing. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, their behavior demonstrated their rejection of divine guidance, and Allah's turning away of their hearts (saraf) was a consequence of their willful ignorance and refusal to comprehend the truth. The ayah emphasizes that divine guidance requires sincere receptiveness; those who deliberately mock and reject it are sealed from understanding.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9), a Medinan surah revealed after the Battle of Tabūk. The surah extensively addresses the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who lived among the Muslim community in Medina, revealing their secret plots and attitudes of disdain toward the Qur'an and the Prophet Muhammad. This particular verse reflects the documented behavior of hypocrites who would ridicule the Qur'an in private gatherings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever hears a verse from the Book of Allah and does not act upon it, on the Day of Judgment Allah will present him as deaf and blind.' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, Jundub ibn Abdullah reported that the Prophet said those who turn away from guidance are like animals; the ayah's theme of willful rejection of understanding parallels Surah Al-A'raf 7:179.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that true faith requires sincere engagement with God's message, not superficial compliance or hidden ridicule. When we deliberately turn away from guidance and mock the truth, we risk having our hearts sealed from understanding—a consequence far greater than any external punishment.
Related Ayahs
ٱلَّذِينَ قَالُوا۟ لِإِخْوَٰنِهِمْ وَقَعَدُوا۟ لَوْ أَطَاعُونَا مَا قُتِلُوا۟ ۗ قُلْ فَٱدْرَءُوا۟ عَنْ أَنفُسِكُمُ ٱلْمَوْتَ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Those who said about their brothers while sitting [at home], "If they had obeyed us, they would not have been killed." Say, "Then prevent death from yourselves, if you should be truthful."
عَفَا ٱللَّهُ عَنكَ لِمَ أَذِنتَ لَهُمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَكَ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَتَعْلَمَ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
Allāh has pardoned you, [O Muḥammad, but] why did you give them permission [to remain behind]? [You should not have] until it was evident to you who were truthful and you knew [who were] the liars.
قُلْ أَنفِقُوا۟ طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا لَّن يُتَقَبَّلَ مِنكُمْ ۖ إِنَّكُمْ كُنتُمْ قَوْمًا فَـٰسِقِينَ
Say, "Spend willingly or unwillingly; never will it be accepted from you. Indeed, you have been a defiantly disobedient people."
وَٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُوا۟ مَسْجِدًا ضِرَارًا وَكُفْرًا وَتَفْرِيقًۢا بَيْنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَإِرْصَادًا لِّمَنْ حَارَبَ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ وَلَيَحْلِفُنَّ إِنْ أَرَدْنَآ إِلَّا ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّهُمْ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
And [there are] those [hypocrites] who took for themselves a mosque for causing harm and disbelief and division among the believers and as a station for whoever had warred against Allāh and His Messenger before. And they will surely swear, "We intended only the best." And Allāh testifies that indeed they are liars.