Tafseer of The Cave · Al-Kahf · 18:57
And who is more unjust than one who is reminded of the verses of his Lord but turns away from them and forgets what his hands have put forth? Indeed, We have placed over their hearts coverings, lest they understand it, and in their ears deafness. And if you invite them to guidance - they will never be guided, then - ever.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
The explanation of the meaning of the words of Allah the Exalted: وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذُكِّرَ بِآيَاتِ رَبِّهِ فَأَعْرَضَ عَنْهَا وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَنْ يَفْقَهُوهُ وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا وَإِنْ تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَى فَلَنْ يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا (verse 57)
Allah the Exalted says: Who is more wrongful in turning away and obstructing himself in an unfitting manner than he who was reminded of His signs and proofs, by which signs he was guided upon the path of guidance and toward the way of salvation, and who then turned away from His signs and proofs — to which he could have had recourse in order to flee from destruction — وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ: that is to say, he forgot the corrupt deeds that he had committed and showed no repentance, and did not turn back to Allah.
As Bishr related to us, he said: Yazīd related to us, he said: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, who said concerning وَنَسِيَ مَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاهُ: "That is to say: he forgot the sins that he had committed."
His word إِنَّا جَعَلْنَا عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ أَكِنَّةً أَنْ يَفْقَهُوهُ: Allah the Exalted says: We have placed coverings over the hearts of those who turn away from the signs of Allah when they are reminded by them, so that they do not comprehend it — for the meaning is: so that they do not understand that of which they have been reminded. And His word وَفِي آذَانِهِمْ وَقْرًا: that is to say: in their ears a heaviness, so that they do not hear it. وَإِنْ تَدْعُهُمْ إِلَى الْهُدَى: Allah the Exalted says to His Prophet ﷺ: And if you, O Muḥammad, call these people who turn away from the signs of Allah when they are reminded by them to steadfastness upon the straight path and to faith in Allah and in what you have brought them from your Lord — فَلَنْ يَهْتَدُوا إِذًا أَبَدًا: then they will never hold fast to the Truth, and will never believe in what you have called them to, for Allah has sealed their hearts, their ears, and their eyes.
