كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ 14
Translations
No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.
Transliteration
Kalla bal rana alaa qulubihim ma kanu yaksibun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refutes the false belief of the disbelievers who deny the Day of Judgment, asserting instead that their hearts have been sealed and covered (rana) by the sins and evil deeds they have committed. The word 'rana' (رَانَ) means a stain or rust that covers the heart, preventing it from perceiving truth. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that persistent sin creates layers of darkness upon the heart, making it difficult for guidance to penetrate, as the heart becomes hardened through habitual wrongdoing.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mutaffifin, a Meccan surah that addresses fraudsters and those who cheat in measures and weights. The broader context criticizes those who deny the afterlife and divine justice; this specific ayah explains the spiritual mechanism of their disbelief—their repeated sins have sealed their hearts from accepting truth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, when a servant commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents, seeks forgiveness, and turns back, his heart is polished. But if he increases in sin, the blackness increases.' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3334). This hadith directly illustrates the concept of 'rana' mentioned in the ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Persistent sin gradually darkens the heart and clouds one's ability to perceive divine truth and guidance. This serves as a powerful warning for believers to continually repent, seek forgiveness, and remain vigilant against the spiritual deterioration that comes from habitual wrongdoing.