Al Baqarah 2:17 & 2:18
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارا ً فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لاَ يُبْصِرُونَ
صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ
Transliteration:
Mathaluhum Kamathali Al-Ladhī Astawqada Nārāan Falammā 'Ađā'at Mā Ĥawlahu Dhahaba Al-Lahu Binūrihim Wa Tarakahum Fī Žulumātin Lā Yubşirūna
Şummun Bukmun `Umyun Fahum Lā Yarji`ūna
Translation:
Yusuf Ali : Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.
Yusuf Ali : Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).
Dr. Mohsin : Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allâh took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.
Dr. Mohsin : They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).
Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
Their likeness, the way they are in their hypocrisy, is as the likeness of one who kindled, that is, [one who] lit a fire in darkness, and when it illumined all about him, so that he is able to see, and to feel warm and secure from those he feared, God took away their light, extinguishing it (the plural pronoun [in nūrihim] takes into account the [plural] import of alladhī); and left them in darkness, unable to see, what is around them, confused as to the way, in fear; likewise are those who have found [temporary] security by professing faith, but who will meet with terror and punishment upon death; these [last] are:
deaf, to the truth, so that they cannot hear it and accept it; dumb, mute as regards goodness, unable to speak of it; and, blind, to the path of guidance, so that they cannot perceive it; they shall not return, from error.
Tafsir ibn Kathir:
(17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it illuminated all around him, Allah removed their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see).
(18. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the right path).)
The Example of the Hypocrites
Allah likened the hypocrites when they bought deviation with guidance, thus acquiring utter blindness, to the example of a person who started a fire. When the fire was lit, and illumnitated the surrounding area, the person benefited from it and felt safe. Then the fire was suddenly extinguished. Therefore, total darkness covered this person, and he became unable to see anything or find his way out of it. Further, this person could not hear or speak and became so blind that even if there were light, he would not be able to see. This is why he cannot return to the state that he was in before this happened to him. Such is the case with the hypocrites who preferred misguidance over guidance, deviation over righteousness. This parable indicates that the hypocrites first believed, then disbelieved, just as Allah stated in other parts of the Qur'an.
Allah's statement,
﴿ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ﴾
(Allah removed their light) means, Allah removed what benefits them, and this is the light, and He left them with what harms them, that is, the darkness and smoke. Allah said,
﴿وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَـتٍ﴾
(And left them in darkness), that is their doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy.
﴿لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ﴾
((So) they could not see) meaning, they are unable to find the correct path or find its direction. In addition, they are,
﴿صُمٌّ﴾
(deaf) and thus cannot hear the guidance,
﴿بِكُمْ﴾
(dumb) and cannot utter the words that might benefit them,
﴿عَمًى﴾
(and blind) in total darkness and deviation. Similarly, Allah said,
﴿فَإِنَّهَا لاَ تَعْمَى الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَلَـكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِى فِى الصُّدُورِ﴾
(Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind) (22:46) and this why they cannot get back to the state of guidance that they were in, since they sold it for misguidance.
مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارا ً فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لاَ يُبْصِرُونَ
صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لاَ يَرْجِعُونَ
Transliteration:
Mathaluhum Kamathali Al-Ladhī Astawqada Nārāan Falammā 'Ađā'at Mā Ĥawlahu Dhahaba Al-Lahu Binūrihim Wa Tarakahum Fī Žulumātin Lā Yubşirūna
Şummun Bukmun `Umyun Fahum Lā Yarji`ūna
Translation:
Yusuf Ali : Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.
Yusuf Ali : Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).
Dr. Mohsin : Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allâh took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.
Dr. Mohsin : They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).
Tafsir al-Jalalayn:
Their likeness, the way they are in their hypocrisy, is as the likeness of one who kindled, that is, [one who] lit a fire in darkness, and when it illumined all about him, so that he is able to see, and to feel warm and secure from those he feared, God took away their light, extinguishing it (the plural pronoun [in nūrihim] takes into account the [plural] import of alladhī); and left them in darkness, unable to see, what is around them, confused as to the way, in fear; likewise are those who have found [temporary] security by professing faith, but who will meet with terror and punishment upon death; these [last] are:
deaf, to the truth, so that they cannot hear it and accept it; dumb, mute as regards goodness, unable to speak of it; and, blind, to the path of guidance, so that they cannot perceive it; they shall not return, from error.
Tafsir ibn Kathir:
(17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it illuminated all around him, Allah removed their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see).
(18. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the right path).)
The Example of the Hypocrites
Allah likened the hypocrites when they bought deviation with guidance, thus acquiring utter blindness, to the example of a person who started a fire. When the fire was lit, and illumnitated the surrounding area, the person benefited from it and felt safe. Then the fire was suddenly extinguished. Therefore, total darkness covered this person, and he became unable to see anything or find his way out of it. Further, this person could not hear or speak and became so blind that even if there were light, he would not be able to see. This is why he cannot return to the state that he was in before this happened to him. Such is the case with the hypocrites who preferred misguidance over guidance, deviation over righteousness. This parable indicates that the hypocrites first believed, then disbelieved, just as Allah stated in other parts of the Qur'an.
Allah's statement,
﴿ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ﴾
(Allah removed their light) means, Allah removed what benefits them, and this is the light, and He left them with what harms them, that is, the darkness and smoke. Allah said,
﴿وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَـتٍ﴾
(And left them in darkness), that is their doubts, disbelief and hypocrisy.
﴿لاَّ يُبْصِرُونَ﴾
((So) they could not see) meaning, they are unable to find the correct path or find its direction. In addition, they are,
﴿صُمٌّ﴾
(deaf) and thus cannot hear the guidance,
﴿بِكُمْ﴾
(dumb) and cannot utter the words that might benefit them,
﴿عَمًى﴾
(and blind) in total darkness and deviation. Similarly, Allah said,
﴿فَإِنَّهَا لاَ تَعْمَى الاٌّبْصَـرُ وَلَـكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِى فِى الصُّدُورِ﴾
(Verily, it is not the eyes that grow blind, but it is the hearts which are in the breasts that grow blind) (22:46) and this why they cannot get back to the state of guidance that they were in, since they sold it for misguidance.