وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَكِنَّةٍ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقْرٌ وَمِنۢ بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌ فَٱعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَـٰمِلُونَ 5
Translations
And they say, "Our hearts are within coverings [i.e., screened] from that to which you invite us, and in our ears is deafness, and between us and you is a partition, so work; indeed, we are working."
Transliteration
Wa qāloo qulūbunā fī akinnatin mimmā tad'ūnā ilayhi wa fī ādhāninnā waqrun wa min bayninā wa baynaka hijāb, fa'mal innānā 'āmilūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
The disbelievers are describing their obstinate rejection of the Prophet's message, claiming their hearts are veiled (wrapped in coverings) from understanding his call, their ears are heavy (deaf) to it, and a barrier exists between them and him. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, this ayah illustrates the spiritual blindness and willful rejection of the Meccan polytheists—their hearts were not naturally incapable but rather hardened through their own pride and arrogance. Their defiant challenge 'fa'mal innānā 'āmilūn' (so do your work, indeed we are doing our work) represents their stubborn determination to persist in disbelief and opposition to the divine message.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Da'wah when the Prophet ﷺ faced intense opposition from the Quraysh. The context addresses the escalating rejection and mockery of the disbelievers despite the clarity of the Quranic message, reflecting the spiritual state of those who heard the revelations but refused to accept them.
Related Hadiths
The concept is reflected in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet ﷺ stated that 'whoever Allah wills to misguide, He leaves their heart in confusion.' Additionally, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:7 is often cited alongside this ayah: 'Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and over their eyes is a veil.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that rejection of divine guidance is often not due to lack of clarity in the message, but rather to the spiritual condition of the heart—our own pride, arrogance, and preconceptions can become barriers to understanding truth. Modern readers should reflect on whether their hearts remain open to divine guidance or if they have allowed worldly attachments and ego to seal their hearts from receiving wisdom.
Related Ayahs
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ لَا تَسْمَعُوا۟ لِهَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَٱلْغَوْا۟ فِيهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَغْلِبُونَ
And those who disbelieve say, "Do not listen to this Qur’ān and speak noisily during [the recitation of] it that perhaps you will overcome."
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰٓ إِلَىَّ أَنَّمَآ إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ فَٱسْتَقِيمُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ وَٱسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God; so take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness." And woe to those who associate others with Allāh
وَلَئِنْ أَذَقْنَـٰهُ رَحْمَةً مِّنَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ ضَرَّآءَ مَسَّتْهُ لَيَقُولَنَّ هَـٰذَا لِى وَمَآ أَظُنُّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ قَآئِمَةً وَلَئِن رُّجِعْتُ إِلَىٰ رَبِّىٓ إِنَّ لِى عِندَهُۥ لَلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ فَلَنُنَبِّئَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِمَا عَمِلُوا۟ وَلَنُذِيقَنَّهُم مِّنْ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ
And if We let him taste mercy from Us after an adversity which has touched him, he will surely say, "This is [due] to me, and I do not think the Hour will occur; and [even] if I should be returned to my Lord, indeed, for me there will be with Him the best." But We will surely inform those who disbelieved about what they did, and We will surely make them taste a massive punishment.
وَإِذَآ أَنْعَمْنَا عَلَى ٱلْإِنسَـٰنِ أَعْرَضَ وَنَـَٔا بِجَانِبِهِۦ وَإِذَا مَسَّهُ ٱلشَّرُّ فَذُو دُعَآءٍ عَرِيضٍ
And when We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself; but when evil touches him, then he is full of extensive supplication.