Transliteration:( Wa minhum mai yastami'u ilaika wa ja'alnaa 'alaa quloobihim akinnatan ai yafqahoohu wa feee aazaanihim waqraa; wa ai yaraw kulla Aayatil laa yu'minoo bihaa; hattaaa izaa jaaa'ooka yujaadiloonaka yaqoolul lazeena kafaroo in haazaa illaaa asaateerul awwaleen )
"And among them are some who listen to you [48], and We have put veils over their hearts so that they understand it not [49], and in their ears is heaviness. And if they may see all the signs, even then they will not believe [50] in them. In as much as they may come to you disputing, these infidels say: 'These (verses) contain only stories of the past generations.'"
This verse was revealed when disbelievers like Abu Sufyan, Abu Jahl, Waleed, and Nadzar overheard the Holy Prophet ﷺ reciting the Qur’an. When asked about it, Nadzar mockingly claimed that the Prophet ﷺ was merely telling tales, like he did. Abu Sufyan admitted the words sounded pleasant, but Abu Jahl, blinded by arrogance, said it would be better to die than to admit that. This verse exposes the mockery and insincerity of such people. (Khazainul Irfaan)
Though originally revealed about individuals like Waleed, Nadzar, and Abu Jahl, this verse applies to anyone whose heart is devoid of love for the Prophet ﷺ. Only those who hold genuine reverence for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ will grasp the true essence of the Qur’an. Without this spiritual connection, even the clearest message remains hidden to them.
This verse teaches that physical sight alone is not enough to recognize truth. The disbelievers may see all the signs, yet they remain blind to guidance. As Allah says: “And you see them looking at you, and they see nothing.” (Surah 7:198) Merely seeing the Prophet ﷺ with the eyes does not make one a Companion; it is the spiritual recognition and acceptance that grants that honor.
The tafsir of Surah Al-Anam verse 25 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Anam ayat 22 which provides the complete commentary from verse 22 through 26.
(6:25) And of them there are some who appear to pay heed to you, but upon their hearts We have laid coverings so they understand it not; and in their ears, heaviness (so they hear not).[17] Even if they were to witness every sign, they would still not believe in it so much so that when they come to you, they dispute with you, those who disbelieve contend: ‘This is nothing but fables of the ancient times.’[18]
17. It is noteworthy that God attributes to Himself all that happens in the world as a result of the laws of nature. Since these laws were made by God Himself, the effects which result from their operation are also ultimately due to the will and permission of God. The refusal on the part of unbelievers to heed the call of the Truth even when it is clear and audible stems from their obstinacy, prejudice, mental rigidity and inertia. It is a law of nature that when a man is not prepared to rise above prejudice in his quest for the Truth, his heart closes to every truth which is opposed to his desires. We can describe this condition by saying that the heart of that person has become sealed and when God describes it He does so by saying that He had sealed the heart of the person concerned. The explanation of this Paradox is that whereas we describe merely an incident, God describes its ultimate cause.
18. Whenever ignorant people are called to the Truth they are liable to say that there is nothing novel about it, that it is merely a repetition of things that have come down from the past, as if in their view every truth must be new, and whatever is old must of necessity be false, although Truth has always been one and the same and will remain so. All those who have come forward to lead people in the light of God-given knowledge have been preaching one and the same Truth from time immemorial, and all those who will benefit from this valuable source of human knowledge in the future are bound to repeat the same old truths. Novelties can be invented only by those who, being bereft of the light of Divine guidance, are incapable of perceiving the eternal Truth, preferring to weave altogether new ideas out of their imagination and to put them forward as truth.
[300]- When you recite the Qur’ān.
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