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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ يَهْدِيهِمْ رَبُّهُم بِإِيمَـٰنِهِمْ ۖ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهِمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ فِى جَنَّـٰتِ ٱلنَّعِيمِ
Indeed, those who have believed and done righteous deeds - their Lord will guide them because of their faith. Beneath them rivers will flow in the Gardens of Pleasure.
وَمَا كَانَ هَـٰذَا ٱلْقُرْءَانُ أَن يُفْتَرَىٰ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَلَـٰكِن تَصْدِيقَ ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيلَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيهِ مِن رَّبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
And it was not [possible] for this Qur’ān to be produced by other than Allāh, but [it is] a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the [former] Scripture, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَسَبُوا۟ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ جَزَآءُ سَيِّئَةٍۭ بِمِثْلِهَا وَتَرْهَقُهُمْ ذِلَّةٌ ۖ مَّا لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِنْ عَاصِمٍ ۖ كَأَنَّمَآ أُغْشِيَتْ وُجُوهُهُمْ قِطَعًا مِّنَ ٱلَّيْلِ مُظْلِمًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلنَّارِ ۖ هُمْ فِيهَا خَـٰلِدُونَ
But they who have earned [blame for] evil doings - the recompense of an evil deed is its equivalent, and humiliation will cover them. They will have from Allāh no protector. It will be as if their faces are covered with pieces of the night - so dark [are they]. Those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
قُل لَّآ أَمْلِكُ لِنَفْسِى ضَرًّا وَلَا نَفْعًا إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۗ لِكُلِّ أُمَّةٍ أَجَلٌ ۚ إِذَا جَآءَ أَجَلُهُمْ فَلَا يَسْتَـْٔخِرُونَ سَاعَةً ۖ وَلَا يَسْتَقْدِمُونَ
Say, "I possess not for myself any harm or benefit except what Allāh should will. For every nation is a [specified] term. When their time has come, then they will not remain behind an hour, nor will they precede [it]."