وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُوا۟ مِنْ عِندِكَ قَالُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ 16
Translations
And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires.
Transliteration
Wa minhum man yastami'u ilayka hatta idha kharajoo min 'indika qaloo lilladhina ootoo al-'ilma maadha qala anfan. Ula'ika alladhina taba'a Allahu 'ala qulubihim wattaba'oo ahwa'ahum.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes hypocrites who pretend to listen to the Prophet (peace be upon him) attentively, but upon leaving his presence, they mock the message by asking those of knowledge what was just said—revealing their feigned attention and empty hearts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their behavior demonstrates that Allah has sealed their hearts due to their pursuit of desires rather than truth, making them incapable of genuine understanding or conviction.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad was revealed in Medina during a period of heightened conflict with hypocrites and resisters of the Islamic message. This ayah specifically addresses the behavior of munafiqun (hypocrites) in Median society who would attend the Prophet's gatherings outwardly but lacked sincere belief, reflecting the broader thematic concern of the surah with distinguishing sincere believers from pretenders.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of the one who recites the Qur'an and acts upon it is like a citrus fruit—it has a good smell and a good taste. And the example of one who does not recite the Qur'an but acts upon it is like a date—it has no smell but a good taste.' (Sahih Bukhari 5059) This illustrates the difference between sincere engagement with divine guidance versus hollow pretense.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that mere outward attendance to religious gatherings without genuine conviction and sincerity of heart renders one spiritually blind and detached from divine guidance; true faith requires both inner commitment and practical engagement with the message of Islam.
Related Ayahs
فَكَيْفَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَآءُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَتَوْفِيقًا
So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allāh, "We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
إِذَا جَآءَكَ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ قَالُوا۟ نَشْهَدُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَرَسُولُهُۥ وَٱللَّهُ يَشْهَدُ إِنَّ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقِينَ لَكَـٰذِبُونَ
When the hypocrites come to you, [O Muḥammad], they say, "We testify that you are the Messenger of Allāh." And Allāh knows that you are His Messenger, and Allāh testifies that the hypocrites are liars.
طَاعَةٌ وَقَوْلٌ مَّعْرُوفٌ ۚ فَإِذَا عَزَمَ ٱلْأَمْرُ فَلَوْ صَدَقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ
Obedience and good words. And when the matter [of fighting] was determined, if they had been true to Allāh, it would have been better for them.
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُونَ
And when it is said to them, "Do not cause corruption on the earth," they say, "We are but reformers."