Al-An'am · Makki · ayah 25 of 165

Al-An'am 6:25

وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُ إِلَيْكَ ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ كُلَّ ءَايَةٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِهَا ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا جَآءُوكَ يُجَـٰدِلُونَكَ يَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّآ أَسَـٰطِيرُ ٱلْأَوَّلِينَ

“And among them are those who listen to you,[300] but We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if they should see every sign, they will not believe in it. Even when they come to you arguing with you, those who disbelieve say, "This is not but legends of the former peoples."”

Saheeh International

Essence

They sat and listened to the Prophet's recitation, yet their hearts were covered and their ears weighed down, and they left calling it old stories.

A reflection

No voice, however perfect, opens a heart

A young man spends a year preparing to bring his closest friend back to faith. He reads philosophy, studies the arguments, and rehearses answers to every objection. One evening in a café he lays it all out, beautifully. His friend listens, nods, and says, 'Interesting. I just don't see it.' The young man walks home stunned. He had been sure the right argument would do it.

The ayah begins: wa-minhum man yastamiʿu ilayka, among them are some who listen to you. The 'you' is the Prophet ﷺ. The most truthful speaker is reciting the most perfect speech. The listeners pay deliberate attention; the verb's form means listening on purpose. And still the meaning does not enter. 'We placed coverings over their hearts' tells us who holds that door.

Here the ego of the persuader must shrink. Teachers, parents, preachers and debaters can slip into thinking guidance is a matter of technique. If I explain well enough, they will believe. If they do not, I failed. Worse, if they do, I succeeded. The ayah removes both the despair and the pride. If his recitation ﷺ did not open these hearts, no eloquence of ours opens any heart.

The Prophet ﷺ said that all human hearts are between two of the fingers of the Most Merciful. They are like one heart, which He turns as He wills. Then he prayed: O Turner of hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience (Muslim). The words are passed on as they came, without asking how.

Is it vanity for Allah to keep this key? Vanity needs an audience and feeds on praise. He gains nothing from those He guides; they gain everything (35:15). None of this means we stop speaking. Our part is to speak truly and well, and leave the opening to Him. The young man in the café did his part. The rest belongs to the One who may yet turn his friend's heart.

The full entry has 6 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.