An-Nisa · Madani · ayah 46 of 176

An-Nisa 4:46

مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوا۟ يُحَرِّفُونَ ٱلْكَلِمَ عَن مَّوَاضِعِهِۦ وَيَقُولُونَ سَمِعْنَا وَعَصَيْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ غَيْرَ مُسْمَعٍ وَرَٰعِنَا لَيًّۢا بِأَلْسِنَتِهِمْ وَطَعْنًا فِى ٱلدِّينِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ قَالُوا۟ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَٱسْمَعْ وَٱنظُرْنَا لَكَانَ خَيْرًا لَّهُمْ وَأَقْوَمَ وَلَـٰكِن لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

“Among the Jews are those who distort words from their [proper] places [i.e., usages] and say, "We hear and disobey" and "Hear but be not heard" and "Rāʿinā,"[190] twisting their tongues and defaming the religion. And if they had said [instead], "We hear and obey" and "Wait for us [to understand]," it would have been better for them and more suitable. But Allāh has cursed them for their disbelief, so they believe not, except for a few.[191]”

Saheeh International

Essence

Words can be bent off their line, given a hidden edge, or heard and ignored; the ayah names each twist, then offers straight words.

A reflection

Words with two faces

The ayah quotes two phrases that certain opponents used when addressing the Prophet ﷺ. Both were built to carry two meanings at once.

'Hear, without being made to hear.' The commentaries explain the double edge. On its face it could mean: hear, and may you never hear anything hurtful. Underneath it could mean: hear, and may you never hear at all. One commentary calls this a recognised figure of speech, a sentence with two faces. It cites an old example about a one-eyed tailor who sewed a man a cloak. The man said: 'Would that his two eyes were equal.' Blessing or curse? The speaker could always deny the worse meaning.

Then rāʿinā. Its plain sense is 'attend to us, give us your care'. Its root is a shepherd watching over his flock. But the commentaries report that it was twisted, by a stretch of the vowel or a shift of meaning, into something insulting.

Notice what the Quran told the believers about that same word. 'Do not say rāʿinā; say unẓurnā,' wait for us, look at us (2:104). Muslims themselves were asked to give up a word that could be bent, even if they meant it well.

Two-faced language has never gone away. Picture an office email: 'Thanks so much for finally sending this.' Every word polite, every reader knowing exactly what was meant. Deniable, and deliberate.

The lesson for anyone who speaks is simple and demanding. Say what you mean in words that cannot be turned. If a sentence needs a hidden edge to do its work, it is not worth sending.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.