سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 46
وَجَعَلْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَن يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا ۚ وَإِذَا ذَكَرْتَ رَبَّكَ فِى ٱلْقُرْءَانِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَلَّوْا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَدْبَـٰرِهِمْ نُفُورًا ﴿46﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We have put coverings over their hearts lest they should understand it (the Qur’ân), and in their ears deafness. And when you make mention of your Lord Alone [Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh) Islâmic Monotheism (توحيد الله)] in the Qur’ân, they turn on their backs, fleeing in extreme dislike.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَعَلْنَا
wajaʿalnā
And We have placed
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
قُلُوبِهِمْ
qulūbihim
their hearts
أَكِنَّةً
akinnatan
coverings
أَن
an
lest
يَفْقَهُوهُ
yafqahūhu
they understand it
وَفِىٓ
wafī
and in
ءَاذَانِهِمْ
ādhānihim
their ears
وَقْرًۭا ۚ
waqran
deafness
وَإِذَا
wa-idhā
And when
ذَكَرْتَ
dhakarta
you mention
رَبَّكَ
rabbaka
your Lord
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْقُرْءَانِ
l-qur'āni
the Quran
وَحْدَهُۥ
waḥdahu
Alone
وَلَّوْا۟
wallaw
they turn
عَلَىٰٓ
ʿalā
on
أَدْبَـٰرِهِمْ
adbārihim
their backs
نُفُورًۭا
nufūran
(in) aversion
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
46. We have placed coverings over their hearts so they do not understand it (the Quran), and in their ears is heaviness [55]. And when you mention your Lord alone in the Quran, they turn their backs in aversion [56].
[55] This hidden veil and the covering over the hearts, or their being so protected that nothing external can affect them, and the heaviness of hearing in their ears—all these things were proudly claimed by the Quraysh of Makkah about themselves. As these very things are mentioned in the fifth verse of Surah Ha Meem As-Sajdah. Since this is what they themselves wanted, Allah made them just like that. The leaders of Quraysh had imposed a restriction not only on the Muslims but also on themselves that when the Quran was being recited, no one should listen to it. But they themselves could not abide by this self-imposed restriction. However, in opposition, they kept increasing even more than before.
[56]
A Sign of the Polytheists’ Hatred for Tawheed:
Because the mention of Allah alone would automatically negate their deities, which they did not consider merely an insult to their gods, but also an insult to themselves and their forefathers. Because to negate their gods or to declare them completely powerless clearly implied that these leaders of Quraysh and their forefathers were all fools who, considering them powerful, kept worshipping them. Therefore, when they heard the mention of Allah alone, out of anger and hatred, they would run away from there. And this matter is not limited to the Makkan period of the Prophet ﷺ. The same is the case with today’s polytheists. If you listen to the Friday sermons and speeches of these gentlemen, most of it will be about the miracles and powers of their saints and religious elders. At the beginning, some verse is formally recited for blessing, but the rest of the speech is just praise and mention of the miracles of these elders, and their followers also like such speeches and are pleased with them. And if the mention of Allah comes in between, they tolerate it only to the extent that it is bearable, but if only the oneness of Allah is discussed, then their mood becomes bored with this dull and oft-heard speech. And if the speech is being delivered at any gathering other than the Friday sermon, they get up and leave.
[55] This hidden veil and the covering over the hearts, or their being so protected that nothing external can affect them, and the heaviness of hearing in their ears—all these things were proudly claimed by the Quraysh of Makkah about themselves. As these very things are mentioned in the fifth verse of Surah Ha Meem As-Sajdah. Since this is what they themselves wanted, Allah made them just like that. The leaders of Quraysh had imposed a restriction not only on the Muslims but also on themselves that when the Quran was being recited, no one should listen to it. But they themselves could not abide by this self-imposed restriction. However, in opposition, they kept increasing even more than before.
[56]
A Sign of the Polytheists’ Hatred for Tawheed:
Because the mention of Allah alone would automatically negate their deities, which they did not consider merely an insult to their gods, but also an insult to themselves and their forefathers. Because to negate their gods or to declare them completely powerless clearly implied that these leaders of Quraysh and their forefathers were all fools who, considering them powerful, kept worshipping them. Therefore, when they heard the mention of Allah alone, out of anger and hatred, they would run away from there. And this matter is not limited to the Makkan period of the Prophet ﷺ. The same is the case with today’s polytheists. If you listen to the Friday sermons and speeches of these gentlemen, most of it will be about the miracles and powers of their saints and religious elders. At the beginning, some verse is formally recited for blessing, but the rest of the speech is just praise and mention of the miracles of these elders, and their followers also like such speeches and are pleased with them. And if the mention of Allah comes in between, they tolerate it only to the extent that it is bearable, but if only the oneness of Allah is discussed, then their mood becomes bored with this dull and oft-heard speech. And if the speech is being delivered at any gathering other than the Friday sermon, they get up and leave.
