وَحِيلَ بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ مَا يَشْتَهُونَ كَمَا فُعِلَ بِأَشْيَاعِهِم مِّن قَبْلُ ۚ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ فِى شَكٍّ مُّرِيبٍۭ 54
Translations
And prevention will be placed between them and what they desire, as was done with their kind before. Indeed, they were in disquieting doubt [i.e., denial].
Transliteration
Wa hīla baynamuhum wa bayna mā yashtahūn kamā fu'ila bi-ash'ā'ihim min qablu, innahum kānū fī shakkin murīb.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how a barrier is placed between the disbelievers and what they desire (such as guidance, mercy, or worldly fulfillment) just as was done to their predecessors who rejected the signs of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir explain that this separation results from their persistent doubt and rejection of truth, making them unworthy of receiving what they covet. The phrase 'doubt that arouses suspicion' (shakk murīb) emphasizes their deliberate uncertainty rather than innocent questioning.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Saba (a Meccan surah) within a passage addressing those who rejected the Message and the resurrection. The broader context discusses how disbelievers will be deprived of divine blessings and how their fate mirrors that of previous nations who similarly rejected their prophets. It serves as a warning to the Meccan polytheists about the consequences of sustained disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to the hadith in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet (ﷺ) stated that hearts are turned away from guidance due to persistent rejection: 'Truly in the body is a morsel of flesh; if it is sound, the whole body is sound, and if it is corrupt, the whole body is corrupt - and truly it is the heart.' This reflects how rejection hardens hearts and creates barriers to guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
When people persistently reject truth and harbor deliberate doubt, Allah places barriers between them and what they desire—a natural consequence of their choices. This teaches believers the importance of sincere seeking of knowledge and openness to divine guidance, lest they too fall into the pattern of those who were deprived.