وَإِنِّى كُلَّمَا دَعَوْتُهُمْ لِتَغْفِرَ لَهُمْ جَعَلُوٓا۟ أَصَـٰبِعَهُمْ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَٱسْتَغْشَوْا۟ ثِيَابَهُمْ وَأَصَرُّوا۟ وَٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ ٱسْتِكْبَارًا 7
Translations
And indeed, every time I invited them that You may forgive them, they put their fingers in their ears, covered themselves with their garments, persisted, and were arrogant with [great] arrogance.
Transliteration
Wa-inni kullamā da'awtuhum lita-ghfira lahum ja'alū asbā' ahum fī ādhānihim wasta-ghshaw thiyābahum wa-asarrū wa-stakbarū istikbārā
Tafsir (Explanation)
Prophet Noah describes his people's arrogant rejection of his message by putting their fingers in their ears to avoid hearing him, covering themselves with their garments, and stubbornly persisting in their disbelief with great pride. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, these physical gestures represent their deliberate refusal to accept the message of monotheism despite Noah's earnest invitation to seek Allah's forgiveness. Their actions exemplify how rejection of divine guidance stems from spiritual blindness and haughtiness rather than lack of understanding.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Nuh, a Meccan chapter recounting Prophet Noah's 950-year mission to his people. The verse falls within Noah's account of his people's response to his da'wah, illustrating the psychological and physical manifestations of their stubborn refusal. This historical example was revealed to comfort Prophet Muhammad and the early Muslims facing similar ridicule and rejection from the Quraysh.
Related Hadiths
The Quran itself in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:7) describes a similar condition: 'Allah has sealed upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil.' Additionally, Surah Nuh (71:10) continues with Noah's statement: 'Indeed, I invited them to forgiveness, so they put their fingers in their ears' - providing direct contextual support from the same surah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Rejection of divine guidance often stems not from intellectual inability but from spiritual arrogance and willful blindness; we must remain humble and receptive to truth, guarding against the pride that prevented Noah's people from accepting guidance despite centuries of patient preaching.