لَاهِيَةً قُلُوبُهُمْ ۗ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّجْوَى ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ هَلْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ ۖ أَفَتَأْتُونَ ٱلسِّحْرَ وَأَنتُمْ تُبْصِرُونَ 3
Translations
With their hearts distracted. And those who do wrong conceal their private conversation, [saying], "Is this [Prophet] except a human being like you? So would you approach magic while you are aware [of it]?"
Transliteration
Lahiyatan qulubuhum wa asarru-n-najwa alladhina dhalamū hal hadha illa basharun mithlukum aftata'tūna-s-sihra wa antum tubsirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the hearts of those who rejected the message were distracted and heedless, while the wrongdoers secretly conspired among themselves, questioning whether the Prophet Muhammad was merely a human like themselves and dismissing his message as magic despite witnessing clear signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this reflects the spiritual blindness and denial of the Meccan disbelievers who refused to acknowledge the truth despite their rational capacity to perceive it, choosing instead to attribute divine miracles to sorcery out of arrogance and envy.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Anbiya, a Meccan surah that addresses the mockery and denial faced by the Prophet Muhammad from the polytheists of Mecca. The broader context discusses how disbelievers doubted the message and the messenger, engaging in secret discussions to discredit Islam, which was a common response to the Prophet's preaching in the early Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3610) reports that when the Quran mentions the disbelievers' secret conversations and accusations of magic, it reflects their deliberate rejection despite witnessing miracles. Also relevant is the hadith about the Prophet's patience with mockery, found in Sunan Ibn Majah, illustrating the context of persecution he endured.
Themes
Key Lesson
Even when presented with undeniable truth and miracles, those whose hearts are hardened by arrogance and worldly distraction will devise excuses and conspiracies to reject the message. This teaches us that true guidance requires both intellectual honesty and a receptive heart, and we should guard ourselves against the spiritual heedlessness that prevents us from recognizing divine signs in our own lives.
Related Ayahs
قَالُوٓا۟ أَجِئْتَنَا بِٱلْحَقِّ أَمْ أَنتَ مِنَ ٱللَّـٰعِبِينَ
They said, "Have you come to us with truth, or are you of those who jest?"
وَنَضَعُ ٱلْمَوَٰزِينَ ٱلْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْـًٔا ۖ وَإِن كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا ۗ وَكَفَىٰ بِنَا حَـٰسِبِينَ
And We place the scales of justice for the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be treated unjustly at all. And if there is [even] the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as accountant.
لَا تَرْكُضُوا۟ وَٱرْجِعُوٓا۟ إِلَىٰ مَآ أُتْرِفْتُمْ فِيهِ وَمَسَـٰكِنِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُسْـَٔلُونَ
[Some angels said], "Do not flee but return to where you were given luxury and to your homes - perhaps you will be questioned."
وَأَدْخَلْنَـٰهُ فِى رَحْمَتِنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰلِحِينَ
And We admitted him into Our mercy. Indeed, he was of the righteous.