أَمْ تَحْسَبُ أَنَّ أَكْثَرَهُمْ يَسْمَعُونَ أَوْ يَعْقِلُونَ ۚ إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا كَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ ۖ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِيلًا 44
Translations
Or do you think that most of them hear or reason? They are not except like livestock. Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their] way.
Transliteration
Am tahsabu anna akthara-hum yasma'oon aw ya'qiloon. In hum illa ka-al-an'am. Bal hum adall sabila.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rebukes those who reject faith despite hearing the message, questioning whether the disbelievers truly listen or use their intellect. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as a rebuke to the Meccan polytheists who witnessed the Quran's clarity yet refused to comprehend its truth, making them worse than cattle since animals follow their natural instincts while humans deliberately reject divine guidance. The comparison emphasizes that rejection despite clear evidence and intellectual capacity constitutes a greater spiritual loss than mere animal existence.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan period of Surah Al-Furqan, addressing the Meccan society's persistent rejection of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) despite the Quran's clear signs. The broader context of the surah deals with criticisms against the Prophet and refutations of the disbelievers' objections, making this ayah part of the divine response to their wilful ignorance and denial.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of the one who recites the Quran and does not act upon it is like a beautiful flower with a pleasant fragrance but a bitter taste' (Tirmidhi, related thematically). Also relevant: 'The worst of people are those who know the truth but abandon it' (a principle found in various hadith collections).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that possessing intellect and hearing divine truth carries responsibility; rejecting clear guidance after understanding it represents a greater spiritual descent than mere ignorance. Modern believers should reflect on whether they truly internalize Quranic wisdom or merely hear it, ensuring their knowledge translates into righteous action.