وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ 42
Translations
And among them are those who listen to you. But can you cause the deaf to hear [i.e., benefit from this hearing], although they will not use reason?
Transliteration
Wa minhum man yastami'ūn ilayk. Afa anta tusmī'u al-summa wa law kānū lā ya'qilūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah uses the metaphor of physical deafness to describe spiritual blindness and heedlessness of those who refuse to understand the Message. The rhetorical question posed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasizes that he cannot force understanding upon those whose hearts are sealed against the truth—a theme extensively discussed by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, who note that this addresses the futility of preaching to those who willfully reject guidance despite hearing the Message.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan context of Surah Yunus, which deals with the rejection the Prophet faced from the Quraysh despite clear signs and miracles. The surah addresses the obstinacy of disbelievers who heard the Qur'an but refused to comprehend or accept it, illustrating that the Prophet's role was to convey the message, not to compel belief.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'My Mercy encompasses all things' (Sahih Muslim 2751), emphasizing that guidance is available to all, but comprehension requires both hearing and understanding. Additionally, the principle is reflected in the Hadith about the Prophet's statement that he is only a warner, found in multiple compilations including Sahih Bukhari.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that as communicators of truth, we are responsible only for clear transmission of the message, not for forcing others to understand or accept it; true comprehension requires both receptive ears and an open, reasoning heart. Modern readers should reflect that information alone does not create belief—transformation requires sincere willingness to reflect and accept truth.
Related Ayahs
وَيَقُولُونَ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ ۖ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْغَيْبُ لِلَّهِ فَٱنتَظِرُوٓا۟ إِنِّى مَعَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْمُنتَظِرِينَ
And they say, "Why is a sign not sent down to him from his Lord?" So say, "The unseen is only for Allāh [to administer], so wait; indeed, I am with you among those who wait."
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ فَأْتُوا۟ بِسُورَةٍ مِّثْلِهِۦ وَٱدْعُوا۟ مَنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ صَـٰدِقِينَ
Or do they say [about the Prophet (ﷺ)], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a sūrah like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allāh, if you should be truthful."
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا لِتَلْفِتَنَا عَمَّا وَجَدْنَا عَلَيْهِ ءَابَآءَنَا وَتَكُونَ لَكُمَا ٱلْكِبْرِيَآءُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا نَحْنُ لَكُمَا بِمُؤْمِنِينَ
They said, "Have you come to us to turn us away from that upon which we found our fathers and so that you two may have grandeur in the land? And we are not believers in you."
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ ۖ مَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِۦ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَٱعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and the earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne, arranging the matter [of His creation]. There is no intercessor except after His permission. That is Allāh, your Lord, so worship Him. Then will you not remember?