وَمِنْهُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ ٱلنَّبِىَّ وَيَقُولُونَ هُوَ أُذُنٌ ۚ قُلْ أُذُنُ خَيْرٍ لَّكُمْ يُؤْمِنُ بِٱللَّهِ وَيُؤْمِنُ لِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ يُؤْذُونَ رَسُولَ ٱللَّهِ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ 61
Translations
And among them are those who abuse the Prophet and say, "He is an ear." Say, "[It is] an ear of goodness for you that believes in Allāh and believes the believers and [is] a mercy to those who believe among you." And those who abuse the Messenger of Allāh - for them is a painful punishment.
Transliteration
Wa minhumu alladhīna yu'dhūna an-nabiyya wa yaqūlūna huwa udhun. Qul udhun khayrin lakum yu'minu billāhi wa yu'minu lil-mu'minīn wa rahmatan lilladhīna āmanū minkum. Wa alladhīna yu'dhūna rasūla allāhi lahum 'adhābun alīm.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses the hypocrites (munāfiqūn) of Medina who mocked the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) by calling him 'an ear' (implying he listens to anyone and accepts all reports uncritically). The Prophet is commanded to respond that his listening is a mercy—he believes in Allah and listens to the believers with compassion and justice. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain this as a defense of the Prophet's character: his receptiveness to believers' concerns is a virtue, not a weakness, and those who harm the Messenger face severe punishment.
Revelation Context
Revealed in the Medinan period (likely 9 AH), this ayah addresses the behavior of hypocrites in Medina who openly criticized the Prophet. The broader context of Surah At-Tawbah deals with the hypocrisy of certain groups in Medina and the consequences of breaking covenants with Allah. This specific verse responds to a taunt used by the hypocrites to undermine the Prophet's credibility.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari records that the hypocrites of Medina would openly mock the Prophet's character and decisions. Additionally, Tirmidhi reports ahadiths emphasizing the Prophet's mercy and justice in listening to believers' grievances, demonstrating that his 'open ear' was indeed a quality of compassionate leadership.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that receptiveness to others' concerns, especially in leadership, is not weakness but a reflection of faith in Allah and mercy toward believers; conversely, it reminds us that deliberately harming or mocking the Messenger and those in positions of moral authority incurs severe divine punishment, underscoring the sanctity of respecting righteous guidance.