صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ 18
Translations
Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path].
Transliteration
Summun bukmun 'umyun fahum lā yarji'ūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who reject the signs of Allah as being spiritually deaf, dumb, and blind—unable to perceive divine guidance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, these are metaphorical descriptions of those whose hearts are sealed from understanding the Quran, despite having physical faculties intact. The phrase 'fahum lā yarji'ūn' (they will not return) emphasizes their persistent rejection and unwillingness to turn back to the truth.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the opening section of Surah Al-Baqarah (verses 1-20) which describes different categories of people in relation to the Quran: believers, disbelievers, and hypocrites. This specific ayah describes the disbelievers (kāfirūn) who obstinately reject divine signs despite clear evidence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The example of the one who recites the Quran is like a citron whose smell is pleasant and whose taste is sweet, and the example of the one who does not recite the Quran is like a date whose smell is not pleasant and whose taste is not sweet.' (Sahih Bukhari 5059) - This hadith contrasts those who engage with divine guidance versus those who turn away.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that rejecting divine guidance is not merely an intellectual failing but a spiritual disease that affects the heart, ears, and mind. We should regularly examine our hearts to ensure we remain receptive to Allah's signs and guidance, lest we fall into heedlessness and spiritual blindness.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ أَنَّىٰ يُصْرَفُونَ
Do you not consider those who dispute concerning the signs of Allāh - how are they averted?
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّآ أَضَآءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُۥ ذَهَبَ ٱللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِى ظُلُمَـٰتٍ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ
Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allāh took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see.
وَلَوْ نَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ كِتَـٰبًا فِى قِرْطَاسٍ فَلَمَسُوهُ بِأَيْدِيهِمْ لَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ
And even if We had sent down to you, [O Muḥammad], a written scripture on a page and they touched it with their hands, the disbelievers would say, "This is not but obvious magic."
وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ ءَايَةً يُعْرِضُوا۟ وَيَقُولُوا۟ سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ
And if they see a sign [i.e., miracle], they turn away and say, "Passing magic."