17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a
fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allah took away 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).
19. Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together).
20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things.
17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him…: The parable given of them (the hypocrites) is like they are kindling a fire, meaning having light and it being taken away from him. Without light one is left in darkness, so the meaning here is that they have no clarity in their lives so they have been left in the darkness of what they chose, the lack of guidance.
18. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path): They (the hypocrites) have been described as being deaf because their sense of hearing doesn’t benefit them as the purpose of hearing given to mankind has not been fulfilled. They have been described as dumb because their ability to speak has not been actualised. They have been described as being blind because they have no insight.
20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight…: Referring to what has been stated before, their characteristics when the Quraan and its guidance is being revealed. It can also refer to their state of fear of punishment and being exposed for their hypocrisy when it thunders.
…whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still… : Meaning, their characteristics and situation never changes. Either they are scared when it thunders or they are scared when the light of thunder goes away and they are left in darkness. They are constantly in the state of fear (from being founded out and being punished in the Dunyaa), when they hear the thunder they fear they are going to die but when the thunder clears they are left blinded in their darkness.
…And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things…: Meaning, if Allaah Willed He could have guided them but they (the hypocrites) chose to remain in their misguidance.
This is because they preferred to close their ears with their fingers when the guidance was sent and recited to them.
The benefit behind this parable is the fact that the hypocrites live in a state of doubt, they don’t benefit from their senses of hearing and seeing, thus the truth is averted from them.
18. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).
19. Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together).
20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things.
[al-Baqarah 2:17-20]
Al-‘Allaamah Taahir bin ‘Aashoor [May Allaah have Mercy on
him] said in his Tafseer:
17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him…: The parable given of them (the hypocrites) is like they are kindling a fire, meaning having light and it being taken away from him. Without light one is left in darkness, so the meaning here is that they have no clarity in their lives so they have been left in the darkness of what they chose, the lack of guidance.
…Allah
took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see…: Allaah
took away their light; meaning, they (hypocrites) kindled a fire but the
benefit behind kindling the fire was not achieved, thus they were left without
fulfilling any objective. However, they had only been left with their sense of
hearing because Allaah took away their sense of ability to see, meaning they
were able to hear the truth and its explanation but they didn’t intend to be
guided, so they were left in the darkness of their misguidance and thus blinded
to the truth.
18. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path): They (the hypocrites) have been described as being deaf because their sense of hearing doesn’t benefit them as the purpose of hearing given to mankind has not been fulfilled. They have been described as dumb because their ability to speak has not been actualised. They have been described as being blind because they have no insight.
…They will not return…:
meaning they will not return or leave these three negative characteristics,
being deaf, dumb and blind. They have not gain understanding nor have they been
guided to what is correct by utilising these three characteristics.
19. Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness,
thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the
stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the
disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together) : this is connected to the simile given
before about the kindling of the fire. Meaning, they have the ability to hear
the Quraan and its guidance but they chose not to benefit from it, rather they
seek to ridicule it and those who follow it.
As a result, they are
like those who have rain poured onto them, and this simile refers to the Quraan
and its guidance. It is being poured onto them however they chose to be in
darkness and a state of fear, the simile given here is darkness, thunder and
lighting. They are like those who are lost in their ways, because those who are
safe from darkness, thunder and lightning are those who are safe in their
homes, however these people who reject it resemble those who are homeless and
left exposed to darkness, thunder and lightning.
Therefore, these
Aayat describe the state of the believers, those who are safe because they
possess the characteristics needed for them to be safe. And it is describes the
hypocrites and the characteristics they possess so that one can realise and deceiver
who they are and the situation they are in.
20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight…: Referring to what has been stated before, their characteristics when the Quraan and its guidance is being revealed. It can also refer to their state of fear of punishment and being exposed for their hypocrisy when it thunders.
…whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still… : Meaning, their characteristics and situation never changes. Either they are scared when it thunders or they are scared when the light of thunder goes away and they are left in darkness. They are constantly in the state of fear (from being founded out and being punished in the Dunyaa), when they hear the thunder they fear they are going to die but when the thunder clears they are left blinded in their darkness.
…And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things…: Meaning, if Allaah Willed He could have guided them but they (the hypocrites) chose to remain in their misguidance.
This is because they preferred to close their ears with their fingers when the guidance was sent and recited to them.
The benefit behind this parable is the fact that the hypocrites live in a state of doubt, they don’t benefit from their senses of hearing and seeing, thus the truth is averted from them.
[A summary taken from at-Tahreer
wa at-Tanweer (1/314-321)]
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