وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا خَرَجُوا۟ مِنْ عِندِكَ قَالُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ أُوتُوا۟ ٱلْعِلْمَ مَاذَا قَالَ ءَانِفًا ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ طَبَعَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ 16
Translations
And among them, [O Muḥammad], are those who listen to you, until when they depart from you, they say to those who were given knowledge, "What has he said just now?" Those are the ones of whom Allāh has sealed over their hearts and who have followed their [own] desires.
Transliteration
Wa minhum man yastami'u ilayka hatta idha kharajoo min 'indika qaloo lilladhina ootoo al-'ilma maadha qala anfan. Ula'ika alladhina taba'a Allahu 'ala qulubihim wattaba'oo ahwa'ahum.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes hypocrites who pretend to listen to the Prophet (peace be upon him) attentively, but upon leaving his presence, they mock the message by asking those of knowledge what was just said—revealing their feigned attention and empty hearts. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, their behavior demonstrates that Allah has sealed their hearts due to their pursuit of desires rather than truth, making them incapable of genuine understanding or conviction.
Revelation Context
Surah Muhammad was revealed in Medina during a period of heightened conflict with hypocrites and resisters of the Islamic message. This ayah specifically addresses the behavior of munafiqun (hypocrites) in Median society who would attend the Prophet's gatherings outwardly but lacked sincere belief, reflecting the broader thematic concern of the surah with distinguishing sincere believers from pretenders.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of the one who recites the Qur'an and acts upon it is like a citrus fruit—it has a good smell and a good taste. And the example of one who does not recite the Qur'an but acts upon it is like a date—it has no smell but a good taste.' (Sahih Bukhari 5059) This illustrates the difference between sincere engagement with divine guidance versus hollow pretense.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that mere outward attendance to religious gatherings without genuine conviction and sincerity of heart renders one spiritually blind and detached from divine guidance; true faith requires both inner commitment and practical engagement with the message of Islam.
Related Ayahs
وَإِذْ يَقُولُ ٱلْمُنَـٰفِقُونَ وَٱلَّذِينَ فِى قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ مَّا وَعَدَنَا ٱللَّهُ وَرَسُولُهُۥٓ إِلَّا غُرُورًا
And [remember] when the hypocrites and those in whose hearts is disease said, "Allāh and His Messenger did not promise us except delusion,"
وَإِذَا لَقُوا۟ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُسْتَهْزِءُونَ
And when they meet those who believe, they say, "We believe"; but when they are alone with their evil ones, they say, "Indeed, we are with you; we were only mockers."
فَكَيْفَ إِذَآ أَصَـٰبَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌۢ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ ثُمَّ جَآءُوكَ يَحْلِفُونَ بِٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَدْنَآ إِلَّآ إِحْسَـٰنًا وَتَوْفِيقًا
So how [will it be] when disaster strikes them because of what their hands have put forth and then they come to you swearing by Allāh, "We intended nothing but good conduct and accommodation."
۞ أَتَأْمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلْبِرِّ وَتَنسَوْنَ أَنفُسَكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَتْلُونَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ
Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Then will you not reason?