Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 45

(Ayah 46,45) ➊ {وَ اِذَا قَرَاْتَ الْقُرْاٰنَ جَعَلْنَا …: ’’ اَكِنَّةً ‘‘ ’’ كِنَانٌ ‘‘} is the plural of it, something that conceals, a veil. {’’ وَقْرًا ‘‘} means burden, here it refers to deafness. {’’ نُفُوْرًا ‘‘ ’’نَافِرٌ‘‘} is the plural of it, meaning those who recoil. It can also be a verbal noun, due to aversion, that is, when they denied the Hereafter and then became so obstinate and stubborn that despite being explained countless times, they continued to deny, the result was that a deep veil came between them and you, O Prophet (peace be upon him), their hearts were covered with veils, but such that no one can see them, hidden from sight, and their ears became deaf to every admonisher, but those wretched ones, instead of worrying about these veils and being deprived of the effect of the Qur’an, took pride in it and kept mocking. The Jews were also in the same state. See Surah Al-Baqarah (88). The state of the polytheists has been mentioned by Allah Almighty in Surah Ha Meem As-Sajdah (5). Although the cause of this veil was their own stubbornness and obstinacy, since Allah Almighty is the Creator of everything, it is said that when you recite the Qur’an, We place this veil.
Another meaning of this verse is that when you recite the Qur’an and some disbelievers come to harm you, We place such a veil between you and them that cannot be seen, and because of this veil, they cannot see you nor can they cause you any harm or distress. Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that when Surah Lahab was revealed, Awra Umm Jamil (the wife of Abu Lahab) came in great rage holding a stone in her hand and she was saying: {’’مُذَمَّمًا أَبَيْنَا، وَأَمْرَهُ عَصَيْنَا وَ دِيْنَهُ قَلَيْنَا ‘‘} (We do not accept Mudhammam, nor do we obey his command, and we are enemies of his religion). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting in the Ka’bah, and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was with him. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “O Messenger of Allah! This woman is coming, I fear she will see you.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “She will never see me,” and he recited some verses of the Qur’an for protection, among them was this verse: «وَ اِذَا قَرَاْتَ الْقُرْاٰنَ جَعَلْنَا بَيْنَكَ وَ بَيْنَ الَّذِيْنَ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِالْاٰخِرَةِ حِجَابًا مَّسْتُوْرًا » So she came and stood by Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), but she did not see the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him). In short, after a few words with Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), she left. [ مسند أبی یعلٰی : ۲۵۔ مستدرک حاکم : 361/2، ح : ۳۳۷۶ ] Al-Hakim declared it Sahih and Al-Dhahabi agreed with him, and there are several supporting narrations; see Arna’ut’s commentary on Ibn Hibban (651). In any case, both the first and second meanings are correct: that when they are present while you recite the Qur’an, despite hearing the Qur’an, because of this veil, they neither hear it as it should be heard, nor understand it, nor are affected by it; and if they come with the intention of causing harm, Allah Almighty protects you from their sight through this veil.
➋ { وَ اِذَا ذَكَرْتَ … :} The best explanation of this verse is in Surah Az-Zumar, verse (45); see hims commentary.