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
فَإِن يَصْبِرُوا۟ فَٱلنَّارُ مَثْوًى لَّهُمْ ۖ وَإِن يَسْتَعْتِبُوا۟ فَمَا هُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُعْتَبِينَ
So [even] if they are patient, the Fire is a residence for them; and if they ask to appease [Allāh], they will not be of those who are allowed to appease.
سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?
ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ
Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَـٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقْوَٰتَهَا فِىٓ أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَآءً لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ
And He placed on it [i.e., the earth] firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information of] those who ask.