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
وَلَا عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا مَآ أَتَوْكَ لِتَحْمِلَهُمْ قُلْتَ لَآ أَجِدُ مَآ أَحْمِلُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ تَوَلَّوا۟ وَّأَعْيُنُهُمْ تَفِيضُ مِنَ ٱلدَّمْعِ حَزَنًا أَلَّا يَجِدُوا۟ مَا يُنفِقُونَ
Nor [is there blame] upon those who, when they came to you for you to take them along, you said, "I can find nothing upon which to carry you." They turned back while their eyes overflowed with tears out of grief that they could not find something to spend [for the cause of Allāh].
وَإِذَا مَآ أُنزِلَتْ سُورَةٌ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ أَيُّكُمْ زَادَتْهُ هَـٰذِهِۦٓ إِيمَـٰنًا ۚ فَأَمَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فَزَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَـٰنًا وَهُمْ يَسْتَبْشِرُونَ
And whenever a sūrah is revealed, there are among them [i.e., the hypocrites] those who say, "Which of you has this increased in faith?" As for those who believed, it has increased them in faith, while they are rejoicing.
إِنَّ عِدَّةَ ٱلشُّهُورِ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱثْنَا عَشَرَ شَهْرًا فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ مِنْهَآ أَرْبَعَةٌ حُرُمٌ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ ۚ فَلَا تَظْلِمُوا۟ فِيهِنَّ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۚ وَقَـٰتِلُوا۟ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ كَآفَّةً كَمَا يُقَـٰتِلُونَكُمْ كَآفَّةً ۚ وَٱعْلَمُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ
Indeed, the number of months with Allāh is twelve [lunar] months in the register of Allāh [from] the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion [i.e., way], so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allāh is with the righteous [who fear Him].
وَلَا تُعْجِبْكَ أَمْوَٰلُهُمْ وَأَوْلَـٰدُهُمْ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ أَن يُعَذِّبَهُم بِهَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا وَتَزْهَقَ أَنفُسُهُمْ وَهُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
And let not their wealth and their children impress you. Allāh only intends to punish them through them in this world and that their souls should depart [at death] while they are disbelievers.