Surah Baqarah 2:6-7

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا سَوَاءٌ عَلَيْهِمْ أَأَنذَرْتَهُمْ أَمْ لَمْ تُنذِرْهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

Transliteration: Inna allatheena kafaroo sawaonAAalayhim aanthartahum am lam tunthirhum layu/minoon

Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.

Inna – Certainly. Beauty of Arabic language that the words not only depict meaning but also depth of meaning and style of speech as well.

Kafara – to hide

  • Night is called Kaafir as it hides things
  • Farmer because he hides seeds under the ground.
  • Kaffara – compensation for a sin. To pay off for the mistake and it hides the sin.
  • Kufrani nemat – not to recognize blessings.
  • Kafoor – scent – the outer peel of a fruit that hides the fruit inside
  • Takfir - means hiding sins in a way that they were never done
  • Word Kafir is used in specific cases to deny something and in general sense as opposite of gratitude and faith – i.e. denial of all or any essential articles of faith – Oneness of Allah ﷻ, prophethood, blessings of Allah ﷻ, laws of Islam, considering Allah ﷻ as our Rabb (not just Creator but also cares and maintains and nurtures us), considering Adam AS as father of all humanity

All humans from Adam AS

No Racism in Islam. All kinds of human classifications that we have created based on colour of skin, nation or region of origin, language, education, financial status, body, etc. do not determine the value of a person in Islam. The rights of a Muslim enjoyed by Abu Bakr RA and Umar RA were the same rights of a Muslim that were enjoyed by Bilal RA, Salman al-Farsi RA and Suhaib Ar-Rumi RA.

Islam does not accept any classification inferiority or superiority between human beings except by faith. The two groups are very distinct –

1.       A believer, a mumin, a muttaqee, someone who benefits from the Book and becomes successful – muflih. A fair minded, conscientious, God fearing, morally alive, person with sound heart, unblemished faculties.

2.       A disbeliever, a denier of truth, arrogant, so stubborn that not prepared to hear the truth or consider an argument. Can be of different kinds – stubborn disbelievers and defiantly disobedient or hypocrites (also a kaafir but wants to prove that he is a mumin) 

When we want to move to America, we follow the rules of America. When we want to live in Canada, we need to follow the rules of Canada. It is the ruler of a place that establishes its rules. This world and the next belong to Allah ﷻ and therefore it is those who follow the laws of Allah ﷻ have a right to thrive in both these places. On the Day of Judgement, there is no neutral place, there is either Jannah or Jahannum. Some people believe that human beings are born in sin and steeped in sin; others believe that human beings are essentially ignorant and naive and go in any direction; some hold that human beings have divine origin and potential; while other believe that human beings have potential for both good and bad in them. Only the last one is correct. As we have potential for both, whatever aspect we focus on and nurture, grows.

Believers --- go to Jannah; Disbelievers --- go to jahannum

People in Mecca wanted a modified version of Islam, but prophet SAW refused. If he had agreed to change anything, people in Mecca would have easily accepted and made him their own leader. Kufr has a lot of leeway. You can mix a but of belief in it and it will not make any difference. But Islam is pure, and not even a drop of impurity of Kufr and shirk is acceptable. Example- clean water versus dirty water. 

Although it is clear as black and white i.e. a mumin can not be a kaafir and a kaafir cannot be a mumin but there are many shades in between i.e. a believer can be several levels and grades and a disbeliever can be several grades and shades.

A munafiq (hypocrite) is also a Kaafir but he is just a Kaafir who wants to prove himself to be a mumin.

We cannot just call anyone in our day and time – Kaafir

This is an action they do. We cannot know for sure the state of their hearts.Our purpose of learning Quran is not to judge others but to look at ourselves and assess and better our own selves everyday. Also we can not oversimplify the matter.

There might be some people who are Muslims but they have declared their Islam to noone except Allah SWT. For example, at the time of the treaty of Hudaybiyah, when Meccans were trying to harm the Muslims, an ayah came down from Surah Fath 48:25, "They are the ones who disbelieved and obstructed you from al-Masjid al-Haram while the offering was prevented from reaching its place of sacrifice. And if not for believing men and believing women whom you did not know - that you might trample them and there would befall you because of them dishonor without [your] knowledge - [you would have been permitted to enter Makkah]. [This was so] that Allah might admit to His mercy whom He willed. If they had been apart [from them], We would have punished those who disbelieved among them with painful punishment" We have to keep our hope up for people and not be in a rush to label them as Kaafir. Ibrahim AS loved his father and kept asking forgiveness for him until Allah SWT told him not to make Istighfaar anymore. Allah SWT todl Adam AS and Hawwa RA in Surah Baqarah 2:38, "We said, "Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance - there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve." Whoever follows My guidance - includes all children of Adam AS, the whole of humanity. Every human being deserves respect. RasoolAllah SAW stood up when a Jewish girl's funeral was passing by.

Not all disbelievers are to be opposed or hated. Its only the worst haters and oppressors that we stand against. And even they, as soon as they take shahadah, they become our brothers in Islam.  

Someone who is ignorant might just be rejecting because the message has not yet reached them properly. So many non-Muslims might carry a benefit of doubt on the Day of Judgement just because the Muslims around them were lazy or unconfident and did not share the message. We cannot call such people Kaafir. Some people might not have understood the message. Example - when a mother asks a child to eat, and the child says no. 

Those who listen and purposely ignore something are not the same as the ignorant ones. These people get the information, recognize the truth, but did not accept it out of pride and hid it for the sake of worldly gains. Allah SWT informs us that such people became kaafir. 

Quran is extremely sensitive to context. Yes, there is an angry tone here. But this is a general tone meant for very specific people. For example, when we say, people have hurt me. We do not mean that all people have hurt us. It is some specific people who have hurt us. Here, the word Kaafir refers to those people who refused to listen to Prophet SAW and were going to die as disbelievers. Ibn Abbas RA says that here this term refers to the leaders of Jewish community in Medina at the time of the Prophet SAW. These people, although known as people of knowledge, had demonstrated disbelief in their own book from before this, and were now set in their ways. They recognized the prophet SAW as the last and true prophet, but did not accept him for the sake of keeping religious authority. It really bothered them that what they put so much efforts to erase from their own books, like the Akhirah, Quran kept hitting them with that information (subjects that they were trying to avoid). Leaders of Taif and people like Abu Jahl and Abu Lahb also fall in this category of Kaafir people but some of them could have been rejecting based on ignorance and arrogance.   

Sawaun: it means "the same"; when two things are exactly the same. Like our hands, our feet. Even 1 mm of a difference in size of legs can make a person fall.

Alayhim: (for them): it is same for them – not for us. We do not stop giving dawah or calling people towards Islam even if we face rejection and opposition. Our reward is with Allah ﷻ. We keep putting seeds in, seed might stay dormant for a while. We keep trying. There is not a single verse in the Quran dissuading the prophet ﷺ from calling even such people to Islam.

Message of the prophets AS was based on sound psychological and strong rational arguments and evidence from human experience and physical universe. It is the legacy of the prophets AS to not just convey the message but also speak to the listeners with sympathy, understanding and genuine regard for their good. This message contained both bashr and nadhr. (good news and warnings)

Nadhr: warning; bringing news that would cause alarm or concern. Not the ordinary kind of warning to frighten people but one that is motivated by love and compassion. Eg – we warn our children from fire, snakes, electric outlets. Prophets AS were nadheer – they forewarned us of dangers and disasters faced in this life as well as the Hereafter.We all know consequences of things like swallowing poison. Many times, many of us ignore the consequences of disbelief, hypocrisy and falsehood – prophets warn us about these things. The use of the word "warning" also highlights the concept of the Day of Judgement. 

These people are so set in their ways of Kufr that it doesn't matter if we warn them or not. They are so stubborn, vain and opinionated that they are not prepared to hear the truth and consider a clear argument. On some of these cases, any amount of efforts will beat no fruit. Example, if a utensil is put upside down, no matter how much water you pour over it, no water fills it. Prophet SAW, the mercy for the whole mankind, he used to cry out of care and concern for people that why do they not accept the guidance. Through this ayah, Allah SWT is also telling the prophet SAW that don't be sad or worried if there are people who are not listening, you are doing a good job. It is them who are just not ready to listen. 

Quran demands pondering. Allah SWT creates questions in our minds as we study ayah of Quran and we have to ponder and study more to understand the intent.

 

خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰ أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ

Transliteration: Khatama Allahu AAala quloobihimwaAAala samAAihim waAAala absarihim ghishawatunwalahum AAathabun AAatheem

Allah has set a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil. And for them is a great punishment. 

Khatam: refers to completing something, like a done deal. Its like when a container is filled up completely and cannot be filled anymore, and when rice is cooked and then utensil sealed with a lid. Also in olden times, the official letters once completely written and done would be sealed with an official seal made of melted wax. This would be referred to as Khatam.Once a seal is put on a letter, that binds it so that what is inside and outside the letter can no longer mix. Nothing will enter and nothing will come out now. The word Khatam-un-nabiyeen used for Prophet SAW because he was the last prophet.

Qalb: heart. refers to something that flips. Heart is very soft and it flips easily. "Qalbu insaan" means to flip a person from his path. A camel's heart disease is called a "Qullab". "Rajulun Qulubbun" is used to refer to a person who is expert in mishmash and shuffling things up. Al-Qaleeb is an old well that has never been cleaned. 

Adhaab: a punishment, when something's sweetness is taken away. 

Adheem: huge. Camels bones are called adhm.  

  • Although the act of putting seal is attributed as an act of Allah SWT, its purpose is to emphasize divine law concerning guidance and error. 
  • Allah SWT does not like to punish people, but the most wretched deserve punishment. Allah SWT does not randomly seal anyone's hearts for no reason. Example, if we keep eating too much sugar, then we have brought diabetes to ourselves. Or if we put water in our car's fuel tank instead of petrol, then we have spoiled the car ourselves. Similarly, spiritually speaking when we keep on forgetting our Creator, Our Rabb Allah SWT and His laws in our lives and putting them aside even after knowing them, that is when our hearts get sealed. 
  • When someone doesn't use their arm for a long time, they won't be able to use it in future as well. Same principle applies in our spiritual lives. When we do not exercise any good that is in our hearts and do not accept the message in our hearts, that is when a seal is put. When someone sees the truth, a messenger comes and explains to them, they hear about it, understand it, their heart recognizes it, and still they do not accept, that is when Allah SWT puts seals on their hearts. 
  • Hadith: It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.” [83:14] (Sunan ibn Majah, Book 37, Hadith 4385 (Arabic); 4244 (English))
  • One of the greatest of all punishments in this world is when there is a seal on someone's heart - when they cannot benefit from the revelation. They are so stubborn that they do not even realize that they are mistaken. Heights of self admiration. Having a seal on the hearts meant even the desire for guidance goes away, the tendency to ponder and reflect or accept a good advise goes away.
  • Heart is supposed to be a place of love, mercy, gratitude, fear, hope, guilt, shame, responsibility, dignity and respect. It is when hearts become sealed that things become flipped. For example, they become incapable of loving what they should. Instead of loving a believer, they start hating a believer. Heart loses all emotions it was supposed to house and it becomes a place of cruelty, ingratitude, hopelessness, considering sins to be good, pride of sins, shamelessness, no responsibility, no sense of dignity, laziness of the heart, heedlessness towards remembrance of Allah SWT. This is not a small problem. Everything good that comes from heart is gone. Angels become aware of seal on them and stop making dua for them. The heart of a Kafir feels constricted. 
  • Ears are directly connected to the heart. When hearts are already sealed then ears get sealed, i.e. they are not ready to listen. Then they get even bothered by listening to anything good. 
  • Heart and listening are from all dimensions, therefore a seal is put on them. Eyes see only in the front, so a curtain is enough to block their vision. 
  • When we look at nature, like the beauty of clouds, trees, sky etc. it makes us realize that the Creator of all this is One. When there is a veil over the vision, then a person refuses to see the guidance for what it is. They become unconcerned and uninterested in reality beyond physical phenomenon. They see the creation of Allah SWT but they are unable to see the signs of the Creator in it. They don't look at the paths that take to Allah SWT. They are addicted to this life and its pleasures so much that they forget the very One Who gave them this life and its pleasures in the first place. Even animals know who their master is and act differently with their master compared to others. Allah SWT has blessed us with more intelligence than animals. We take every breath from His permission and through His help, yet we do not make an effort to know Him??? The One Who does Raham on us, who is Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem, we got away from Him only??? 
  • This also solves the debate about freedom of will and determinism for us. It would have been unfair if Allah SWT did not give us intelligence, had not sent us prophets or Books or any message, did not give us any signs, no senses like ears, eyes and hearts - and then we were asked out of the blue on the Day of Judgement. But no! Allah SWT has made several arrangements for us know and learn about Him and find our way back to Him. Yet we find extremely intelligent and talented people who are very clever in dealing with material world, yet indifferent and even rather stupid when faced with moral and spiritual values and questions. On one hand, they are unconcerned and uninterested in reality beyond physical phenomenon, and on the other hand, if someone draws their attention to it, they pay no need to it. 
  • Another punishment of an evil deed is another evil deed that comes after it. Just like one good deeds opens door for another good deed, an evil deed opens door for another evil deed.
  • Grammatically speaking, hearts and eyes are mentioned in plural here but hearing is mentioned in singular. We all see and feel things from different states and perspectives, but we are unified in our hearing. We hear the same sounds, yet how they impact us are different.Example, the same rain falling on different soil with different seeds in it, creates different crops. We might be hearing the same things, but gather different gems.
  • Some scholars have commented that this will be their condition on the Day of Judgement. 
  • Scary thoughts and feelings come in mind when we think of torture. And the kind of punishment that Allah SWT Himself calls huge, how big would that punishment be?  
  • Life becomes constricted for the person who leaves the remembrance of Allah SWT. In some narrations, leaving salah is equated to Kufr. and it is said that the grave becomes constricted for the person who leaves salah.