Surah Muhammad (47) — Ayah 16

(Ayah 16) ➊ { وَ مِنْهُمْ مَّنْ يَّسْتَمِعُ اِلَيْكَ:} After mentioning the polytheists and their evil end, the disbelievers among the People of the Book and the worst kind of disbelievers, the hypocrites, are mentioned, who used to attend your ﷺ gatherings, listen attentively to your words, but not to accept them, rather to find statements that suited their interests, with which they would make people suspicious of Islam. Since disbelief dominated their hearts and minds, and they did not believe in the Day of Resurrection, the words of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were foreign to them; the meaning expressed by the tongue of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not settle in their hearts. They could not understand how, for what seemed to them an imaginary Hereafter, anyone could bear worldly loss. In reality, a person whose entire effort is for this world cannot understand the words of the prophets, just as the people of Shu‘ayb عليه السلام said: « يٰشُعَيْبُ مَا نَفْقَهُ كَثِيْرًا مِّمَّا تَقُوْلُ» [ھود : ۹۱] "O Shu‘ayb! We do not understand much of what you say."

➋ {حَتّٰۤى اِذَا خَرَجُوْا مِنْ عِنْدِكَ قَالُوْا لِلَّذِيْنَ اُوْتُوا الْعِلْمَ … : ’’ اُوْتُوا الْعِلْمَ ‘‘} refers to the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), because Allah Almighty had granted them the light of knowledge and faith regarding His essence and attributes, His prophets, His books, His angels, the Day of Resurrection, and destiny. That is, when they (the hypocrites) leave your ﷺ gathering, they say to the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), who are adorned with knowledge and faith, while belittling and mocking your words: "We did not understand anything of what he just said; did you people understand anything?"

➌ { اُولٰٓىِٕكَ الَّذِيْنَ طَبَعَ اللّٰهُ عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ:} It is said that there are two reasons for their lack of understanding: one is that, due to their insistence and stubbornness in disbelief, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts, so they simply cannot understand, as He said: « وَّ قَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوْبُنَا غُلْفٌ بَلْ طَبَعَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ اِلَّا قَلِيْلًا » [النساء: ۱۵۵] "And because they said, 'Our hearts are wrapped,' but Allah has set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so they do not believe except for a few."

➍ {وَ اتَّبَعُوْۤا اَهْوَآءَهُمْ:} The second reason for their lack of understanding is that they are not ready to listen to any rational argument; rather, they only want to do what suits their desires, and they are not willing to accept any restriction against their wishes. When someone reaches this state, in reality, anything contrary to his desires does not make sense to him, nor is he ready to accept it, no matter how good it may be.

1. 6. 1 This is the mention of the hypocrites. Since their intention was not Sahih, the words of the Prophet ﷺ were also not understood by them. After leaving the gathering, they would ask the Companions ؓ what he had said.

And among them are some (i.e., the hypocrites) who listen attentively to you. Then, when they leave your presence, they ask those who have been given knowledge, "What was it he just said?" These are the ones upon whose hearts Allah has set a seal, and they follow only their [19] desires.

[19] That is, the hypocrites would come to your gatherings and listen attentively to your words only so that they might find some point by which they could cast doubt upon the Prophet’s teachings. Then they would go and ask certain Jewish scholars or some Muslims, “What did this Prophet just say?” And their purpose in this was never to seek guidance from it, but rather to cast others into doubt and suspicion as well. Or, they would interpret your statements in a way that was not your intended meaning. The only reason for this was that they were not willing to accept any restriction on their own desires. When someone reaches this state, that is the time when Allah sets a seal upon his heart, and no guidance can then benefit him.