وَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَتْهُمْ رِجْسًا إِلَىٰ رِجْسِهِمْ وَمَاتُوا۟ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ 125
Translations
But as for those in whose hearts is disease, it has [only] increased them in evil [in addition] to their evil. And they will have died while they are disbelievers.
Transliteration
Wa-ammā alladhīna fī qulūbihim maraḍun fa-zādathum rijsan ilā rijsihim wa-mātu wa-hum kāfirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how the Quran and divine signs increase the spiritual disease (doubt, hypocrisy, and disbelief) already present in the hearts of those who reject faith, rather than healing them. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that 'maraḍ' (disease of the heart) refers to the spiritual sickness of hypocrisy and disbelief, and these individuals die in a state of kufr (disbelief) because they deliberately turn away from guidance. The ayah emphasizes that revelation acts as a test—purifying the believers while condemning the disbelievers further into their spiritual corruption.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Tawbah (Chapter 9), which was revealed during the Medinan period and addresses the issue of hypocrites (munāfiqūn) who outwardly claimed belief while harboring disbelief in their hearts. The context specifically relates to the hypocrites' response to the Quranic verses and the Prophet's message—their rejection of truth compounds their spiritual sickness rather than curing it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The Quran is either for you or against you,' narrated in various forms in hadith collections. Additionally, Sahih Muslim contains narrations about the hypocrites whose hearts contained disease that prevented them from accepting faith, reflecting the concept described in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah warns us that knowledge and exposure to truth without sincere hearts and willingness to accept guidance only increases our spiritual corruption. Modern readers should reflect on whether they approach divine revelation with open, sincere hearts seeking guidance, or with hearts already hardened by doubt and denial, understanding that our response to truth has eternal consequences.
Related Ayahs
أَلَا تُقَـٰتِلُونَ قَوْمًا نَّكَثُوٓا۟ أَيْمَـٰنَهُمْ وَهَمُّوا۟ بِإِخْرَاجِ ٱلرَّسُولِ وَهُم بَدَءُوكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ أَتَخْشَوْنَهُمْ ۚ فَٱللَّهُ أَحَقُّ أَن تَخْشَوْهُ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Would you not fight against a people who broke their oaths and determined to expel the Messenger, and they had begun [the attack upon] you the first time? Do you fear them? But Allāh has more right that you should fear Him, if you are [truly] believers.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَلْمِزُكَ فِى ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَإِنْ أُعْطُوا۟ مِنْهَا رَضُوا۟ وَإِن لَّمْ يُعْطَوْا۟ مِنْهَآ إِذَا هُمْ يَسْخَطُونَ
And among them are some who criticize you concerning the [distribution of] charities. If they are given from them, they approve; but if they are not given from them, at once they become angry.
قَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَلَا بِٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَلَا يُحَرِّمُونَ مَا حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥ وَلَا يَدِينُونَ دِينَ ٱلْحَقِّ مِنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ حَتَّىٰ يُعْطُوا۟ ٱلْجِزْيَةَ عَن يَدٍ وَهُمْ صَـٰغِرُونَ
Fight against those who do not believe in Allāh or in the Last Day and who do not consider unlawful what Allāh and His Messenger have made unlawful and who do not adopt the religion of truth [i.e., Islām] from those who were given the Scripture - [fight] until they give the jizyah willingly while they are humbled.
وَمَا كَانَ ٱسْتِغْفَارُ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لِأَبِيهِ إِلَّا عَن مَّوْعِدَةٍ وَعَدَهَآ إِيَّاهُ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُۥٓ أَنَّهُۥ عَدُوٌّ لِّلَّهِ تَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُ ۚ إِنَّ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ لَأَوَّٰهٌ حَلِيمٌ
And the request of forgiveness of Abraham for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to him [i.e., Abraham] that he [i.e., the father] was an enemy to Allāh, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Abraham compassionate and patient.