سُوْرَةُ الْاَعْرَافِ
Surah Al-A'raaf (7) — Ayah 101
تِلْكَ ٱلْقُرَىٰ نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنۢبَآئِهَا ۚ وَلَقَدْ جَآءَتْهُمْ رُسُلُهُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ فَمَا كَانُوا۟ لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِمَا كَذَّبُوا۟ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ يَطْبَعُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ﴿101﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Those were the towns whose story We relate unto you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم). And there came indeed to them their Messengers with clear proofs, but they were not such as to believe in that which they had rejected before. Thus Allâh does seal up the hearts of the disbelievers (from every kind of religious guidance).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
تِلْكَ
til'ka
These
ٱلْقُرَىٰ
l-qurā
(were) the cities
نَقُصُّ
naquṣṣu
We relate
عَلَيْكَ
ʿalayka
to you
مِنْ
min
of
أَنۢبَآئِهَا ۚ
anbāihā
their news
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
جَآءَتْهُمْ
jāathum
came to them
رُسُلُهُم
rusuluhum
their Messengers
بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ
bil-bayināti
with clear proofs
فَمَا
famā
but not
كَانُوا۟
kānū
they were
لِيُؤْمِنُوا۟
liyu'minū
to believe
بِمَا
bimā
in what
كَذَّبُوا۟
kadhabū
they (had) denied
مِن
min
from
قَبْلُ ۚ
qablu
before
كَذَٰلِكَ
kadhālika
Thus
يَطْبَعُ
yaṭbaʿu
(has been) put a seal
ٱللَّهُ
l-lahu
(by) Allah
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
قُلُوبِ
qulūbi
(the) hearts
ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ
l-kāfirīna
(of) the disbelievers
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.
101. These are the towns [105] whose stories We have related to you. Their messengers came to them with clear proofs, but they would not believe in what they had already denied before [106]. Thus Allah seals the hearts of the disbelievers.
[105] That is, the regions of the prophetic missions of Sayyiduna Nuh ؑ, Sayyiduna Hud ؑ, Sayyiduna Salih ؑ, Sayyiduna Lut ؑ, and Sayyiduna Shu'ayb ؑ.
[106]
When and How is a Seal Set Upon the Heart?
In this part of the verse, two things are mentioned: first, when and how is a seal set upon the heart? And second, in what sense is the act of sealing attributed to Allah? Allah Almighty says that a seal is set upon a person's heart in such a way that when he once denies or rejects something, and even if, after seeing a sign or being explained by someone, he comes to understand the truth, he persists in his previous denial merely because accepting it would hurt his ego. When a person reaches this state, he should understand that the time has come for Allah's seal to be set upon his heart, and henceforth he will no longer be capable of accepting the truth.
Why is the Act of Sealing Attributed to Allah Almighty?
The act of sealing is attributed to Allah Almighty because adopting the means is within a person's own control, and for this reason, he has been commanded to adopt the means, and the reward or punishment for his actions is also based on his adoption of the means. However, obtaining the results or consequences of these means is not within a person's control. These results, most of the time, do correspond to the means adopted, but sometimes they may turn out contrary to them. Therefore, the attribution of the results can be made both to the one who adopts the means and to Allah Almighty. And in the Quran, this attribution is used in both ways. In any case, even if this attribution is made to Allah Almighty, it is still understood that it is the result of the actions of the criminal who adopted such means. And in reality, the criminal is the one who adopted those means.
[105] That is, the regions of the prophetic missions of Sayyiduna Nuh ؑ, Sayyiduna Hud ؑ, Sayyiduna Salih ؑ, Sayyiduna Lut ؑ, and Sayyiduna Shu'ayb ؑ.
[106]
When and How is a Seal Set Upon the Heart?
In this part of the verse, two things are mentioned: first, when and how is a seal set upon the heart? And second, in what sense is the act of sealing attributed to Allah? Allah Almighty says that a seal is set upon a person's heart in such a way that when he once denies or rejects something, and even if, after seeing a sign or being explained by someone, he comes to understand the truth, he persists in his previous denial merely because accepting it would hurt his ego. When a person reaches this state, he should understand that the time has come for Allah's seal to be set upon his heart, and henceforth he will no longer be capable of accepting the truth.
Why is the Act of Sealing Attributed to Allah Almighty?
The act of sealing is attributed to Allah Almighty because adopting the means is within a person's own control, and for this reason, he has been commanded to adopt the means, and the reward or punishment for his actions is also based on his adoption of the means. However, obtaining the results or consequences of these means is not within a person's control. These results, most of the time, do correspond to the means adopted, but sometimes they may turn out contrary to them. Therefore, the attribution of the results can be made both to the one who adopts the means and to Allah Almighty. And in the Quran, this attribution is used in both ways. In any case, even if this attribution is made to Allah Almighty, it is still understood that it is the result of the actions of the criminal who adopted such means. And in reality, the criminal is the one who adopted those means.
