أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ 23
Translations
Those [who do so] are the ones that Allāh has cursed, so He deafened them and blinded their vision.
Transliteration
Ulaa'ika alladhina laanahumullaahu fa-asammahum wa-a'maa absaarahum
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes those who reject Allah's signs and turn away from guidance, stating that Allah has cursed them, sealed their hearing, and blinded their sight. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret this as both a spiritual blindness and deafness—a consequence of deliberate rejection of truth—where Allah removes from them the ability to perceive and understand divine guidance. The verse emphasizes that such blindness and deafness are divine punishment resulting from their own choice to turn away, not an arbitrary act.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Muhammad, a Medinan surah revealed during the period when the Muslim community faced opposition from the Quraysh and hypocrites. The context concerns those who hear the Qur'an but reject it despite its clarity. The surah addresses the stubbornness of those who deliberately ignore Allah's message, and this verse exemplifies the spiritual consequence of such persistent rejection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'When Allah intends good for His slave, He makes him understand the religion' (Sahih Bukhari). Additionally, the hadith in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:7) has a similar theme of Allah sealing hearts as a consequence of rejection: 'Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing' (referenced in Surah Muhammad's teaching).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that persistent rejection of truth brings spiritual consequences—a hardening of the heart that makes it increasingly difficult to perceive guidance. It serves as a warning to remain receptive to Allah's signs and to reflect deeply on the Qur'an, lest our hearts become sealed and our ability to recognize truth diminished.