Jonah — Verse 42

The Command to be Free and Clear from the Idolators Allah said to His Prophet : `If these idolators belie you, then be clear from them and their deeds.' فَقُل لِّى عَمَلِى وَلَكُمْ عَمَلُكُمْ (Say: "For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds!") Similarly, Allah said: قُلْ يأَيُّهَا الْكَـفِرُونَ - لاَ أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ (Say: "O you disbelievers! I worship not that which you worship.")109:1-2 to the end of the Surah. Ibrahim Al-Khalil (the Friend) and his followers said to the idolators among their people: إِنَّا بُرَءآؤاْ مِّنْكُمْ وَمِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ (Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allah) 60:4 Allah then said: وَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ (And among them are some who listen to you,) They listen to your beautiful talk and to the Glorious Qur'an. They listen to your truthful, eloquent and authentic Hadiths that are useful to the hearts, the bodies and their faith. This is indeed a great benefit and is sufficient. But guiding the people to the truth is not up to you or to them. You cannot make the deaf hear. Therefore you cannot guide these people except if Allah wishes. Y وَمِنهُمْ مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيْكَ (And among them are some who look at you, ) They look at you and at what Allah has given you in terms of dignity, noble personality and great conduct. There is in all of this clear evidence of your prophethood to those who have reason and insight. Other people also look but they do not receive guidance like them. Believers look at you with respect and dignity while disbelievers regard you with contempt. وَإِذَا رَأَوْكَ إِن يَتَّخِذُونَكَ إِلاَّ هُزُواً (And when they see you, they treat you only in mockery.)25:41 Then Allah announces that He is never unjust with anyone. He guides whomever He wills and opens the eyes of the blind, makes the deaf hear and removes neglect from the hearts. At the same time He lets others go astray, moving away from faith. He does all of that yet He is always Just, for He is the Ruler and has full authority over His kingdom. He does whatever He wills without any restrictions. No one can question Him as to what He does while he will question everyone else. He is Omniscient, All-Wise, and All-Just. So Allah said: إِنَّ اللَّهَ لاَ يَظْلِمُ النَّاسَ شَيْئًا وَلَـكِنَّ النَّاسَ أَنفُسَهُمْ يَظْلِمُونَ (Truly, Allah wrongs not mankind in aught; but mankind wrong themselves.) In the Hadith narrated by Abu Dharr, he states that the Prophet related that His Lord, Exalted and High is He, said: «يَا عِبَادِي إِنِّي حَرَّمْتُ الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي وَجَعَلْتُهُ بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا» (O My servant! I have prohibited oppression for Myself and made it prohibited for you, so do not oppress one another...) Until He said at the end of the Hadith: يَا عِبَادِي إِنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ، ثُمَّ أُوفِيكُمْ إِيَّاهَا، فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدِ اللهَ، وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يَلُومَنَّ إِلَّا نَفْسَه» (O My servants! It is but your deeds that I reckon for you and then recompense you for. So let him who finds good (in the Hereafter) praise Allah. And let him who finds other than that blame no one but himself.) The complete version was recorded by Muslim.

And of them are some who listen to you when you recite the Qur’ān. But will you make the deaf to hear — He likens them the Meccan disbelievers to these the deaf because they are not able to benefit from what is recited to them — even though with their deafness they do not understand? even though they do not reflect?

Among them are those who listen to thee. The listeners are diverse and their degrees disparate. One hears through nature with the ear of the head; he was sleeping and listening wakes him up and relieves him of sorrow. Another hears through the state with the ear of the heart; he was resting and listening brings him into movement until the breeze of intimacy blows. Another hears through the Real with a soul that is dead, a heart that is thirsty, and a burning breath; the beginningless reminder arrives, the spirit takes its ease in loving kindness, and the secret core is filled with love. Bū Sahl ṣuʿlūk said, " In listening the listener is between curtaining and self-disclosure. The curtaining of the Real belongs to the beginners. It is the mark of mercy's gaze on the work of the Men, for in their weakness and incapacity they are not able to bear the unveiling of the ruling power of the Haqiqah. " In this meaning it has been recounted from Manṣūr Maghribī that he said, " I alighted at a camp of nomads. A young man made me his guest. Suddenly he fell down unconscious, so I asked about his state. I was told that he was in love with the daughter of his uncle, and that she had just come out of her tent. The youth had seen the dust of her garment as she went, so he fell down unconscious. I got up and went to the doorway of that tent and interceded for the youth. I said, 'A stranger among you has respect and safeguards. I have come to intercede with you in the business of this young man. Be kind to him in his longing.' " The woman said to me, 'You have a sound heart. He is not able to put up with witnessing the dust from my dress. How will he put up with my love?' This is the state of the desirer, for He keeps him covered by the curtain of selfhood so that he will not be totally burnt and melted by the assaults of the Haqiqah. He sees no more than one flash of the lightning of the Haqiqah, and it brings him into movement; he shouts out, tears his clothing, and weeps. Again, when he reaches the place of straightness and achieves stability in the reality of solitariness, the breeze of proximity begins to blow on him from the horizon of self-disclosure. His movement is changed to stillness, for the influxes of awesomeness bring forth courtesy with the Presence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, " When they were in [the Qur'an's] presence, they said, 'Give ear!' " [46:29].

Among them are those who listen to thee. The listeners are diverse and their degrees disparate. One hears through nature with the ear of the head; he was sleeping and listening wakes him up and relieves him of sorrow. Another hears through the state with the ear of the heart; he was resting and listening brings him into movement until the breeze of intimacy blows. Another hears through the Real with a soul that is dead, a heart that is thirsty, and a burning breath; the beginningless reminder arrives, the spirit takes its ease in loving kindness, and the secret core is filled with love. Bū Sahl ṣuʿlūk said, " In listening the listener is between curtaining and self-disclosure. The curtaining of the Real belongs to the beginners. It is the mark of mercy's gaze on the work of the Men, for in their weakness and incapacity they are not able to bear the unveiling of the ruling power of the Haqiqah. " In this meaning it has been recounted from Manṣūr Maghribī that he said, " I alighted at a camp of nomads. A young man made me his guest. Suddenly he fell down unconscious, so I asked about his state. I was told that he was in love with the daughter of his uncle, and that she had just come out of her tent. The youth had seen the dust of her garment as she went, so he fell down unconscious. I got up and went to the doorway of that tent and interceded for the youth. I said, 'A stranger among you has respect and safeguards. I have come to intercede with you in the business of this young man. Be kind to him in his longing.' " The woman said to me, 'You have a sound heart. He is not able to put up with witnessing the dust from my dress. How will he put up with my love?' This is the state of the desirer, for He keeps him covered by the curtain of selfhood so that he will not be totally burnt and melted by the assaults of the Haqiqah. He sees no more than one flash of the lightning of the Haqiqah, and it brings him into movement; he shouts out, tears his clothing, and weeps. Again, when he reaches the place of straightness and achieves stability in the reality of solitariness, the breeze of proximity begins to blow on him from the horizon of self-disclosure. His movement is changed to stillness, for the influxes of awesomeness bring forth courtesy with the Presence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, " When they were in [the Qur'an's] presence, they said, 'Give ear!' " [46:29].

Among them are those who listen to thee. The listeners are diverse and their degrees disparate. One hears through nature with the ear of the head; he was sleeping and listening wakes him up and relieves him of sorrow. Another hears through the state with the ear of the heart; he was resting and listening brings him into movement until the breeze of intimacy blows. Another hears through the Real with a soul that is dead, a heart that is thirsty, and a burning breath; the beginningless reminder arrives, the spirit takes its ease in loving kindness, and the secret core is filled with love. Bū Sahl ṣuʿlūk said, " In listening the listener is between curtaining and self-disclosure. The curtaining of the Real belongs to the beginners. It is the mark of mercy's gaze on the work of the Men, for in their weakness and incapacity they are not able to bear the unveiling of the ruling power of the Haqiqah. " In this meaning it has been recounted from Manṣūr Maghribī that he said, " I alighted at a camp of nomads. A young man made me his guest. Suddenly he fell down unconscious, so I asked about his state. I was told that he was in love with the daughter of his uncle, and that she had just come out of her tent. The youth had seen the dust of her garment as she went, so he fell down unconscious. I got up and went to the doorway of that tent and interceded for the youth. I said, 'A stranger among you has respect and safeguards. I have come to intercede with you in the business of this young man. Be kind to him in his longing.' " The woman said to me, 'You have a sound heart. He is not able to put up with witnessing the dust from my dress. How will he put up with my love?' This is the state of the desirer, for He keeps him covered by the curtain of selfhood so that he will not be totally burnt and melted by the assaults of the Haqiqah. He sees no more than one flash of the lightning of the Haqiqah, and it brings him into movement; he shouts out, tears his clothing, and weeps. Again, when he reaches the place of straightness and achieves stability in the reality of solitariness, the breeze of proximity begins to blow on him from the horizon of self-disclosure. His movement is changed to stillness, for the influxes of awesomeness bring forth courtesy with the Presence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, " When they were in [the Qur'an's] presence, they said, 'Give ear!' " [46:29].

Among them are those who listen to thee. The listeners are diverse and their degrees disparate. One hears through nature with the ear of the head; he was sleeping and listening wakes him up and relieves him of sorrow. Another hears through the state with the ear of the heart; he was resting and listening brings him into movement until the breeze of intimacy blows. Another hears through the Real with a soul that is dead, a heart that is thirsty, and a burning breath; the beginningless reminder arrives, the spirit takes its ease in loving kindness, and the secret core is filled with love. Bū Sahl ṣuʿlūk said, " In listening the listener is between curtaining and self-disclosure. The curtaining of the Real belongs to the beginners. It is the mark of mercy's gaze on the work of the Men, for in their weakness and incapacity they are not able to bear the unveiling of the ruling power of the Haqiqah. " In this meaning it has been recounted from Manṣūr Maghribī that he said, " I alighted at a camp of nomads. A young man made me his guest. Suddenly he fell down unconscious, so I asked about his state. I was told that he was in love with the daughter of his uncle, and that she had just come out of her tent. The youth had seen the dust of her garment as she went, so he fell down unconscious. I got up and went to the doorway of that tent and interceded for the youth. I said, 'A stranger among you has respect and safeguards. I have come to intercede with you in the business of this young man. Be kind to him in his longing.' " The woman said to me, 'You have a sound heart. He is not able to put up with witnessing the dust from my dress. How will he put up with my love?' This is the state of the desirer, for He keeps him covered by the curtain of selfhood so that he will not be totally burnt and melted by the assaults of the Haqiqah. He sees no more than one flash of the lightning of the Haqiqah, and it brings him into movement; he shouts out, tears his clothing, and weeps. Again, when he reaches the place of straightness and achieves stability in the reality of solitariness, the breeze of proximity begins to blow on him from the horizon of self-disclosure. His movement is changed to stillness, for the influxes of awesomeness bring forth courtesy with the Presence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, " When they were in [the Qur'an's] presence, they said, 'Give ear!' " [46:29].

Among them are those who listen to thee.The listeners are diverse and their degrees disparate. One hears through nature with the ear of the head; he was sleeping and listening wakes him up and relieves him of sorrow. Another hears through the state with the ear of the heart; he was resting and listening brings him into movement until the breeze of intimacy blows. Another hears through the Real with a soul that is dead, a heart that is thirsty, and a burning breath; the beginningless reminder arrives, the spirit takes its ease in loving kindness, and the secret core is filled with love.Bū Sahl ṣuʿlūk said, " In listening the listener is between curtaining and self-disclosure. The curtaining of the Real belongs to the beginners. It is the mark of mercy's gaze on the work of the Men, for in their weakness and incapacity they are not able to bear the unveiling of the ruling power of the Haqiqah. "In this meaning it has been recounted from Manṣūr Maghribī that he said, " I alighted at a camp of nomads. A young man made me his guest. Suddenly he fell down unconscious, so I asked about his state. I was told that he was in love with the daughter of his uncle, and that she had just come out of her tent. The youth had seen the dust of her garment as she went, so he fell down unconscious. I got up and went to the doorway of that tent and interceded for the youth. I said, 'A stranger among you has respect and safeguards. I have come to intercede with you in the business of this young man. Be kind to him in his longing.'" The woman said to me, 'You have a sound heart. He is not able to put up with witnessing the dust from my dress. How will he put up with my love?'This is the state of the desirer, for He keeps him covered by the curtain of selfhood so that he will not be totally burnt and melted by the assaults of the Haqiqah. He sees no more than one flash of the lightning of the Haqiqah, and it brings him into movement; he shouts out, tears his clothing, and weeps. Again, when he reaches the place of straightness and achieves stability in the reality of solitariness, the breeze of proximity begins to blow on him from the horizon of self-disclosure. His movement is changed to stillness, for the influxes of awesomeness bring forth courtesy with the Presence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, " When they were in [the Qur'an's] presence, they said, 'Give ear!' " [46:29].

ومِنَ الكفار مَن يسمعون كلامك الحق، وتلاوتك القرآن، ولكنهم لا يهتدون. أفأنت تَقْدر على إسماع الصم؟ فكذلك لا تقدر على هداية هؤلاء إلا أن يشاء الله هدايتهم؛ لأنهم صمٌّ عن سماع الحق، لا يعقلونه.

وقوله "ومنهم من يستمعون إليك" أي يسمعون كلامك الحسن والقرآن العظيم والأحاديث الصحيحة الفصيحة النافعة في القلوب والأديان والأبدان وفي هذا كفاية عظيمة; ولكن ليس ذلك إليك ولا إليهم فإنك لا تقدر على إسماع الأصم وهو الأطرش فكذلك لا تقدر على هداية هؤلاء إلا أن يشاء الله.

ثم صور - سبحانه - ما عليه أولئك الجاحدون من جهالات مطبقة ، وغباء مستحكم فقال - تعالى - : ( وَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ الصم وَلَوْ كَانُواْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ . وَمِنهُمْ مَّن يَنظُرُ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنْتَ تَهْدِي العمي وَلَوْ كَانُواْ لاَ يُبْصِرُونَ ) .أى : ومن هؤلاء المشركين - يا محمد - من يستمعون إليك وأنت تقرأ عليهم القرآن وترشدهم إلى ما ينفعهم ، ولكنهم يستمعون بلا تدبر أو فهم ، فهل أنت - يا محمد - فى إمكانك أن تسمع الصم ، ولو انضم إلى صممهم عدم تعقلهم ، لأن الأصم العاقل - كما يقول صاحب الكشاف - ربما تفرس واستدل إذا وقع فى صماخه دوى الصوت ، فإذا اجتمع سلب السمع والعقل جميعا فقد تم الأمر .ومنهم - أيضاً - من ينظر إليك ، ويشاهد البراهين الدالى على صدقك ، فإن وجهك ليس بوجه كذاب ، ولكنه لا يتبع دعوتك جحودا وعنادا ، فهل أنت فى إمكانك أن تهدي العمى ولو انضم إلى فقدان بصرهم فقدان بصيرتهم فأنت ترى أن هاتين الآيتين قد نعتا على المشركين جهالاتهم ، وانطماس بصيرتهم ، بحيث صاروا لا ينتفعون بنعم الله التي أنعم بها عليهم .فقد وصمهم - سبحانه - يفقدان السمع والبصر والعقل ، مع أنهم يسمعون ويبصرون ويعقلو ، لأنهم لما لم يستعملوا نعم الله فيما خلقت له ، صارت هيا والعدم سواء .والاستفهام فى الآيتين للإِنكار والاستبعاد .وجواب ( لو ) فى الآيتين محذوف لدلالة ما قبله عليه ، والجملة معطوفة على جملة مقدرة مقابلة لها . أى : أفأنت تسمع الصم لو كانوا يعقلون ولو كانوا لا يعقلون ، على معنى أفأنت تستطيع إسماعهم فى الحالتين؟ كلا لا تستطيع ذلك وإنما القادر على ذلك هو الله وحده .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ أَفَأَنْتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا لا يَعْقِلُونَ (42)قال أبو جعفر: يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: ومن هؤلاء المشركين من يستمعون إلى قولك ، (أفأنت تسمع الصم ولو كانوا لا يعقلون) ، يقول: أفأنت تخلق لهم السمع ، ولو كانوا لا سمع لهم يعقلون به، أم أنا؟وإنما هذا إعلامٌ من الله عبادَه أن التوفيق للإيمان به بيده لا إلى أحد سواه. يقول لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: كما أنك لا تقدر أن تسمع ، يا محمد ، من سلبته السمع، فكذلك لا تقدر أن تفهم أمري ونهيي قلبًا سلبته فهم ذلك، لأني ختمتُ عليه أنه لا يؤمن.

فقال : ( ومنهم من يستمعون إليك ) بأسماعهم الظاهرة فلا ينفعهم ، ( أفأنت تسمع الصم ) يريد : سمع القلب ، ( ولو كانوا لا يعقلون ) .

لما سبق تقسيم المشركين بالنسبة إلى اعتقادهم في الأصنام إلى من يتبع الظن ومن يوقن بأن الأصنام لا شيء ، وتقسيمهم بالنسبة لتصديق القرآن إلى قسمين : من يؤمن بصدقه ومن لا يؤمن بصدقه؛ كمُل في هذه الآية تقسيمهم بالنسبة للتلقي من النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى قسمين : قِسم يحضرون مجلسه ويستمعون إلى كلامه ، وقسم لا يحضرون مجلسه وإنما يتوسمونه وينظرون سمته . وفي كلا الحالين مسلك عظيم إلى الهدى لو كانوا مهتدين؛ فإن سماع كلام النبي وإرشادِه ينير عقول القابلين للهداية ، فلا جرم أن كان استمرار المشركين على كفرهم مع سماعهم كلام النبي أو رؤية هديه مؤذناً ببلوغهم الغاية في الضلالة مَيئوساً من نفوذ الحق إليهم ، وليس ذلك لقصور كلامه عن قوة الإبلاغ إلى الاهتداء ، كما أن التوسم في سمته الشريف ودلائل نبوءته الواضحة في جميع أحواله كاف في إقبال النفس عليه بشراشرها ، فما عُدم انتفاع الكفار الذين يعاينون ذاته الشريفة بمعاينتها إلا لشدة بغضهم إياه وحسدهم ، وقد أفاد سياق الكلام أنهم يستمعون إليه وينظرون إليه ولا ينتفعون بذلك من جهة أن المستمعين إليه والناظرين إليه هنا استمروا على الكفر كما دل عليه قوله : { وَمِنْهُمْ } في الموضعين ، فطويت جملة : ولا ينتفعون أو نحوها لِلإيجاز بدلالة التقسيم . وجيء بالفعل المضارع دون اسم الفاعل للدلالة على تكرر الاستماع والنظر . والحرمان من الاهتداء مع ذلك التكرر أعجب .فجملة : { أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ الصم وَلَوْ كَانُواْ لاَ يَعْقِلُونَ } تفريع على جملة : { مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ } مع ما طوي فيها . وفي هذا التفريع بيان لسبب عدم انتفاعهم بسماع كلام النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وتسلية له وتعليم للمسلمين ، فقُربت إليهم هذه الحالة الغريبة بأن أولئك المستمعين بمنزلة صُم لا يعقلون في أنهم حُرموا التأثر بما يسمعون من الكلام فساووا الصم الذين لا يعقلون في ذلك ، وهذه استعارة مصرحة إذ جعلهم نفس الصم .وبُني على ذلك استفهام عن التمكن من إسماع هؤلاء الصم وهدي هؤلاء العمي مع أنهم قد ضموا إلى صَممهم عدم العقل وضموا إلى عَماهم عدم التبصر . وهذان الاستفهامان مستعملان في التعجيب من حالهم إذ يستمعون إلى دعوة النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ولا يعقلونها ، وإذ ينظرون أعماله وسِيرته ولا يهتدون بها ، فليس في هذين الاستفهامين معنى الإنكار على محاولة النبي إبلاغهم وهديهم لأن المقام ينبُو عن ذلك .وهذه المعاني المجازية تختلف باختلاف المقام والقرائن ، فلذلك لم يكن الاستفهامان إنكاراً ، ولذلك لا يتوهم إشكال بأن موقع ( لو ) الوصلية هنا بعدما هو بمعنى النفي بحيث تنتقض المبالغة التي اجتلبت لها ( لو ) الوصلية ، بل المعنى بالعكس .وفي هذين الاستفهامين ترشيح لاستعارة الصم والعمي لهؤلاء الكافرين ، أي أن الله لما خلق نفوسهم مفطورة على المكابرة والعناد وبغضاء من أنعم الله عليه وحسده كانت هاته الخصال حوائل بينهم وبين التأثر بالمسموعات والمبصرات فجيء بصيغة الاستفهام التعجيبي المشتملة على تقَوّي الخبر بتقديم المسند إليه على الخبر الفعلي بقوله : { أفأنت تسمع } وقوله : { أفأنت تهدي } دون أن يقال : { أتسمع الصم } و { أتهدي العمي } ، فكان هذا التعجيب مؤكداً مقوى .و ( لو ) في قوله : { ولو كانوا لا يعقلون } وقوله : { ولو كانوا لا يبصرون } ، وصلية دالة على المبالغة في الأحوال ، وهي التي يكون الذي بعدها أقصى ما يعلق به الغرض . ولذلك يقدرون لتفسير معناها جملة قبل جملة ( لو ) مضمونها ضِد الجملة التي دخلت عليها ( لو ) ، فيقال هنا : أفأنت تسمع الصم لَوْ كانوا يعقلون بل ولو كانوا لا يعقلون .ولما كان الغرض هنا التعجيب من حالهم إذ لم يصلوا إلى الهدى كان عدم فهمهم وعدم تبصرهم كناية عن كونهم لا يعقلون وكونهم لا بصائر لهم . فمعنى : { لا يعقلون } ليس لهم إدراك العقول ، أي ولو انضم إلى صممهم عدم عقولهم فإن الأصم العاقل ربما تفرس في مخاطَبِه واستدل بملامحه .وأما معنى : { لا يبصرون } فإنهم لا بصيرة لهم يتبصرون بها . وهو الذي فسر به «الكشاف» وهو الوجه ، إذ بدونه يكون معنى : { لا يبصرون } مساوياً لمعنى العمى فلا تقع المبالغة ب ( لو ) الوصلية موقعها ، إذ يصير أفأنت تهدي العمي ولو كانوا عمياً . ومقتضى كلام «الكشاف» أنه يقال : أبصر إذا استعمَل بصيرته وهي التفكير والاعتبار بحقائق الأشياء . وكلامُ «الأساس» يحوم حوله . وأيَّاً ما كان فالمراد بقوله : { لا يبصرون } معنى التأمل ، أي ولو انضم إلى عَمى العُمي عدم التفكير كما هو حال هؤلاء الذين ينظرون إليك سواء كان ذلك مدلولاً لفعل { يبصرون } بالوضع الحقيقي أو المجازي . فبهذا النظم البديع المشتمل على الاستعارة في أوله وعلى الكناية في آخره وعلى التعجيب وتقويته في وسطه حصل تحقيق أنهم لا ينتفعون بأسماعهم ولا بأبصارهم وأنهم لا يعقلون ولا يتبصرون في الحقائق .وقد علم أن هذه الحالة التي اتصفوا بها هي حالة أصارَهم الله إليها بتكوينه وجعلها عقاباً لهم في تمردهم في كفرهم وتصلبهم في شركهم وإعراضهم عن دعوة رسوله ولذلك جعلهم صماً وعمياً . فليس المعنى أن الله هو الذي يسمعهم ويهديهم لا أنت لأن هذا أمر معلوم لا يحتاج للعبارة .وقد أورد الشيخ ابن عرفة سؤالاً عن وجه التفرقة بين قوله : { من يستمعون } وقوله : { من يَنظر } إذ جيء بضمير الجمع في الأول وبضمير المفرد في الثاني . وأجاب عنه بأن الإسماع يكون من الجهات كلها وأما النظر فإنما يكون من الجهة المقابلة . وهو جواب غير واضح لأن تعدد الجهات الصالحة لأحد الفعلين لا يؤثر إذا كان المستمعون والناظرون متحدين ولأن الجمع والإفراد هنا سواء لأن مفاد ( مَن ) الموصولة فيهما هو من يصدر منهم الفعل وهم عدد وليس الناظر شخصاً واحداً .والوجه أن كلا الاستعمالين سواء في مراعاة لفظ ( من ) ومعناها ، فلعل الابتداء بالجمع في صلة ( مَن ) الأولى الإشارة إلى أن المراد ب ( من ) غير واحد معيَّن وأن العدول عن الجمع في صلة ( من ) الثانية هو التفنن وكراهية إعادة صيغة الجمع لثقلها لا سيما بعد أن حصل فهم المراد ، أو لعل اختلاف الصيغتين للمناسبة مع مادة فعلي ( يستمع ) و ( ينظر ). ففعل ( ينظر ) لا تلائمه صيغة الجمع لأن حروفه أثقل من حروف ( يَستمع ) فيكون العدول استقصاء لمقتضى الفصاحة .

يخبر تعالى عن بعض المكذبين للرسول، ولما جاء به، و أن ‏{‏منهم مَنْ يَسْتَمِعُونَ‏}‏ إلى النبي ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وقت قراءته للوحي، لا على وجه الاسترشاد، بل على وجه التفرج والتكذيب وتطلب العثرات، وهذا استماع غير نافع، ولا مُجدٍ على أهله خيرًا، لا جرم انسد عليهم باب التوفيق، وحرموا من فائدة الاستماع، ولهذا قال‏:‏ ‏{‏أَفَأَنْتَ تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا لَا يَعْقِلُونَ‏}‏ وهذا الاستفهام، بمعنى النفي المتقرر، أي‏:‏ لا تسمع الصم الذين لا يستمعون القول ولو جهرت به، وخصوصًا إذا كان عقلهم معدومًا‏.‏ فإذا كان من المحال إسماع الأصم الذي لا يعقل للكلام، فهؤلاء المكذبون، كذلك ممتنع إسماعك إياهم، إسماعًا ينتفعون به‏.‏ وأما سماع الحجة، فقد سمعوا ما تقوم عليهم به حجة الله البالغة، فهذا طريق عظيم من طرق العلم قد انسد عليهم، وهو طريق المسموعات المتعلقة بالخير‏.‏

قوله تعالى ومنهم من يستمعون إليك أفأنت تسمع الصم ولو كانوا لا يعقلونقوله تعالى ومنهم من يستمعون إليك يريد بظواهرهم ، وقلوبهم لا تعي شيئا مما يقوله من الحق ويتلوه من القرآن ;أفأنت تسمع الصم ولو كانوا لا يعقلون أي لا تسمع ; فظاهره الاستفهام ومعناه النفي ، وجعلهم كالصم للختم على قلوبهم والطبع عليها ، أي لا تقدر على هداية من أصمه الله عن سماع الهدى .

Certain rejectors of Truth are clearly such right from the beginning. But the clever ones among them make a show of attentively listening, as if they really want to understand things, though in their hearts they maintain that they do not have to understand. They look at the signs of the veracity of the Prophet as if they want to observe them with an open heart, though they are already determined not to observe and not to accept. The preacher is thus misled into thinking that they are about to accept the Truth. But, in the eyes of God, they are people who are deaf in spite of having ears and blind in spite of having eyes. Such people do not receive inspiration from God to accept the Truth. God has blessed man with superior capacities. If he utilises these capacities, he will never go astray. But man, finding himself free, misunderstands things. He falls to indulging in utter arrogance. This happens because he fails to understand God’s plan. The things given to him purely for the purpose of putting him to the test are taken by him to be rightfully his.

In the concluding verse (32), it was said: فَذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّـهُ رَ‌بُّكُمُ الْحَقُّ ۖ فَمَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ (So, that is Allah, your Lord in truth. And what is there, after truth, but error?), that is, ` this is the Sacred Being whose attributes of perfection have just been mentioned. Once you have found the Truth, there remains nothing else to find except error and straying. In other words, once it stands proved that Allah Ta` ala is the only true and rightful object of worship, it is terribly senseless to abandon this truth and allow yourself to be diverted elsewhere. important note In relation to issues of religious beliefs embedded in this verse, it must be borne in mind that the statement: مَاذَا بَعْدَ الْحَقِّ إِلَّا الضَّلَالُ (What is there, after truth, but error?) proves that there is no intermediary link between truth and error. What is not the truth will be included in error and straying. There can be no such thing that is neither truth nor error. And it is also not possible that two opposite things could be the truth. This is an established rule in the sight of the majority of scholars in the Muslim Ummah. However, difference exists among ` Ulama' regarding minor and subsidiary juristic issues. In the view of some of them, both sides would be considered as on truth in Ijtihad-based issues and, according to the majority of them, there is consensus on the view that the taking of contra-position in Ijtihad-based problems cannot be termed as error and straying.

(And of them) of the Jews (are some who listen unto thee) listen to your words and speech; it is also said that this means: of the Arab idolaters who listen to your words and speech. (But canst thou) O Muhammad (make the deaf to hear even though they apprehend not) even though they have no desire to apprehend?