وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ 42
Translations
And among them are those who listen to you. But can you cause the deaf to hear [i.e., benefit from this hearing], although they will not use reason?
Transliteration
Wa minhum man yastami'ūn ilayk. Afa anta tusmī'u al-summa wa law kānū lā ya'qilūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah uses the metaphor of physical deafness to describe spiritual blindness and heedlessness of those who refuse to understand the Message. The rhetorical question posed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasizes that he cannot force understanding upon those whose hearts are sealed against the truth—a theme extensively discussed by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, who note that this addresses the futility of preaching to those who willfully reject guidance despite hearing the Message.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the Meccan context of Surah Yunus, which deals with the rejection the Prophet faced from the Quraysh despite clear signs and miracles. The surah addresses the obstinacy of disbelievers who heard the Qur'an but refused to comprehend or accept it, illustrating that the Prophet's role was to convey the message, not to compel belief.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'My Mercy encompasses all things' (Sahih Muslim 2751), emphasizing that guidance is available to all, but comprehension requires both hearing and understanding. Additionally, the principle is reflected in the Hadith about the Prophet's statement that he is only a warner, found in multiple compilations including Sahih Bukhari.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that as communicators of truth, we are responsible only for clear transmission of the message, not for forcing others to understand or accept it; true comprehension requires both receptive ears and an open, reasoning heart. Modern readers should reflect that information alone does not create belief—transformation requires sincere willingness to reflect and accept truth.
Related Ayahs
وَيَوْمَ نَحْشُرُهُمْ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ نَقُولُ لِلَّذِينَ أَشْرَكُوا۟ مَكَانَكُمْ أَنتُمْ وَشُرَكَآؤُكُمْ ۚ فَزَيَّلْنَا بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ وَقَالَ شُرَكَآؤُهُم مَّا كُنتُمْ إِيَّانَا تَعْبُدُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day We will gather them all together - then We will say to those who associated others with Allāh, "[Remain in] your place, you and your 'partners.'" Then We will separate them, and their "partners" will say, "You did not used to worship us,
وَإِن كَذَّبُوكَ فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ ۖ أَنتُم بَرِيٓـُٔونَ مِمَّآ أَعْمَلُ وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad], then say, "For me are my deeds, and for you are your deeds. You are disassociated from what I do, and I am disassociated from what you do."
وَيَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَضُرُّهُمْ وَلَا يَنفَعُهُمْ وَيَقُولُونَ هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ شُفَعَـٰٓؤُنَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ۚ قُلْ أَتُنَبِّـُٔونَ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا لَا يَعْلَمُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَلَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
And they worship other than Allāh that which neither harms them nor benefits them, and they say, "These are our intercessors with Allāh." Say, "Do you inform Allāh of something He does not know in the heavens or on the earth?" Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
Say, "In the bounty of Allāh and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate."