An-Nisa · Ayah 155

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَـٰقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَقَتْلِهِمُ ٱلْأَنۢبِيَآءَ بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَلْ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا 155

Translations

And [We cursed them] for their breaking of the covenant and their disbelief in the signs of Allāh and their killing of the prophets without right and their saying, "Our hearts are wrapped" [i.e., sealed against reception]. Rather, Allāh has sealed them because of their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.

Transliteration

Fabima naqdhihim mithaqahum wa kufrihim bi-ayati Allahi wa qatlihimu al-anbiya'a bighayri haqq wa qawlihim qulubuna ghulf. Bal taba'a Allahu alayha bikufrihim fala yu'minun illa qalilan.

Tafsir (Explanation)

This ayah details the grave sins of the Children of Israel for which Allah sealed their hearts: breaking their covenant with Allah, rejecting His signs, killing the prophets unjustly, and claiming their hearts were sealed (impervious to guidance). Ibn Kathir explains that Allah's sealing of their hearts was a consequence of their deliberate rejection and disbelief, not an arbitrary act—thus only a few among them would believe. Al-Qurtubi notes this demonstrates the causal relationship between persistent rejection and spiritual blindness, where one's choices lead to divine punishment through the hardening of the heart.

Revelation Context

This ayah is part of a broader Medinan passage (4:153-162) discussing the transgressions of the Israelites mentioned throughout Islamic history. The context addresses their repeated violations of the covenant, resistance to prophets, and persistent disbelief, which provides explanation for their spiritual condition during the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The surah was revealed in Medina where Muslims had significant contact with Jewish communities.

Related Hadiths

Sahih Bukhari (3442): The Prophet said regarding the Qur'an, 'Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me.' This relates to the rejection of divine guidance. Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim about the sealing of hearts: those who repeatedly reject truth eventually lose the capacity to recognize it.

Themes

Breaking the CovenantRejection of Divine SignsMurder of ProphetsSealing of HeartsConsequences of DisbeliefDivine JusticeSpiritual Blindness

Key Lesson

This ayah teaches that persistent rejection of truth and violation of covenants with Allah carries severe spiritual consequences, including a hardened heart incapable of accepting guidance. For believers today, it serves as a reminder to guard our hearts through obedience, sincere intention, and openness to divine guidance, lest we fall into the same spiritual condition of those who turned away from Allah's signs.

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Related Ayahs

4:123An-Nisa

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It [i.e., Paradise] is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allāh a protector or a helper.

4:176An-Nisa

يَسْتَفْتُونَكَ قُلِ ٱللَّهُ يُفْتِيكُمْ فِى ٱلْكَلَـٰلَةِ ۚ إِنِ ٱمْرُؤٌا۟ هَلَكَ لَيْسَ لَهُۥ وَلَدٌ وَلَهُۥٓ أُخْتٌ فَلَهَا نِصْفُ مَا تَرَكَ ۚ وَهُوَ يَرِثُهَآ إِن لَّمْ يَكُن لَّهَا وَلَدٌ ۚ فَإِن كَانَتَا ٱثْنَتَيْنِ فَلَهُمَا ٱلثُّلُثَانِ مِمَّا تَرَكَ ۚ وَإِن كَانُوٓا۟ إِخْوَةً رِّجَالًا وَنِسَآءً فَلِلذَّكَرِ مِثْلُ حَظِّ ٱلْأُنثَيَيْنِ ۗ يُبَيِّنُ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ أَن تَضِلُّوا۟ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ

They request from you a [legal] ruling. Say, "Allāh gives you a ruling concerning one having neither descendants nor ascendants [as heirs]." If a man dies, leaving no child but [only] a sister, she will have half of what he left. And he inherits from her if she [dies and] has no child. But if there are two sisters [or more], they will have two thirds of what he left. If there are both brothers and sisters, the male will have the share of two females. Allāh makes clear to you [His law], lest you go astray. And Allāh is Knowing of all things.

4:107An-Nisa

وَلَا تُجَـٰدِلْ عَنِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْتَانُونَ أَنفُسَهُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ مَن كَانَ خَوَّانًا أَثِيمًا

And do not argue on behalf of those who deceive themselves. Indeed, Allāh loves not one who is a habitually sinful deceiver.

4:154An-Nisa

وَرَفَعْنَا فَوْقَهُمُ ٱلطُّورَ بِمِيثَـٰقِهِمْ وَقُلْنَا لَهُمُ ٱدْخُلُوا۟ ٱلْبَابَ سُجَّدًا وَقُلْنَا لَهُمْ لَا تَعْدُوا۟ فِى ٱلسَّبْتِ وَأَخَذْنَا مِنْهُم مِّيثَـٰقًا غَلِيظًا

And We raised over them the mount for [refusal of] their covenant; and We said to them, "Enter the gate bowing humbly"; and We said to them, "Do not transgress on the sabbath"; and We took from them a solemn covenant.