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
يَحْلِفُونَ لَكُمْ لِتَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَرْضَوْا۟ عَنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَرْضَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلْفَـٰسِقِينَ
They swear to you so that you might be satisfied with them. But if you should be satisfied with them - indeed, Allāh is not satisfied with a defiantly disobedient people.
فَلَمَّآ ءَاتَىٰهُم مِّن فَضْلِهِۦ بَخِلُوا۟ بِهِۦ وَتَوَلَّوا۟ وَّهُم مُّعْرِضُونَ
But when He gave them from His bounty, they were stingy with it and turned away while they refused.
وَمَن يُشَاقِقِ ٱلرَّسُولَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ ٱلْهُدَىٰ وَيَتَّبِعْ غَيْرَ سَبِيلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ نُوَلِّهِۦ مَا تَوَلَّىٰ وَنُصْلِهِۦ جَهَنَّمَ ۖ وَسَآءَتْ مَصِيرًا
And whoever opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him and follows other than the way of the believers - We will give him what he has taken and drive him into Hell, and evil it is as a destination.
كَيْفَ وَإِن يَظْهَرُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ لَا يَرْقُبُوا۟ فِيكُمْ إِلًّا وَلَا ذِمَّةً ۚ يُرْضُونَكُم بِأَفْوَٰهِهِمْ وَتَأْبَىٰ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَأَكْثَرُهُمْ فَـٰسِقُونَ
How [can there be a treaty] while, if they gain dominance over you, they do not observe concerning you any pact of kinship or covenant of protection? They satisfy you with their mouths, but their hearts refuse [compliance], and most of them are defiantly disobedient.