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
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا ٱلْقُرُونَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَمَّا ظَلَمُوا۟ ۙ وَجَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلْقَوْمَ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ
And We had already destroyed generations before you when they wronged, and their messengers had come to them with clear proofs, but they were not to believe. Thus do We recompense the criminal people.
دَعْوَىٰهُمْ فِيهَا سُبْحَـٰنَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَتَحِيَّتُهُمْ فِيهَا سَلَـٰمٌ ۚ وَءَاخِرُ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ أَنِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Their call therein will be, "Exalted are You, O Allāh," and their greeting therein will be, "Peace." And the last of their call will be, "Praise to Allāh, Lord of the worlds!"
۞ وَٱتْلُ عَلَيْهِمْ نَبَأَ نُوحٍ إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِۦ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِن كَانَ كَبُرَ عَلَيْكُم مَّقَامِى وَتَذْكِيرِى بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ فَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ فَأَجْمِعُوٓا۟ أَمْرَكُمْ وَشُرَكَآءَكُمْ ثُمَّ لَا يَكُنْ أَمْرُكُمْ عَلَيْكُمْ غُمَّةً ثُمَّ ٱقْضُوٓا۟ إِلَىَّ وَلَا تُنظِرُونِ
And recite to them the news of Noah, when he said to his people, "O my people, if my residence and my reminding of the signs of Allāh has become burdensome upon you - then I have relied upon Allāh. So resolve upon your plan and [call upon] your associates. Then let not your plan be obscure to you. Then carry it out upon me and do not give me respite.
۞ وَيَسْتَنۢبِـُٔونَكَ أَحَقٌّ هُوَ ۖ قُلْ إِى وَرَبِّىٓ إِنَّهُۥ لَحَقٌّ ۖ وَمَآ أَنتُم بِمُعْجِزِينَ
And they ask information of you, [O Muḥammad], "Is it true?" Say, "Yes, by my Lord. Indeed, it is truth; and you will not cause failure [to Allāh]."