Al-Qur'an Surah An-Nisa Verse 155

Mufti Taqi Usmani

So, (they met their fate) for breaking their pledge, and for their disbelief in the verses of Allah, and for their slaying of the prophets unjustly, and for their saying, “Our hearts are sealed” - rather, Allah has set a seal over them for their disbelief, so they do not believe but a little

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

˹They were condemned˺ for breaking their covenant, rejecting Allah’s signs, killing the prophets unjustly, and for saying, “Our hearts are unreceptive!”[[ Their hearts are unreceptive because they claim they have enough knowledge already.]]—it is Allah Who has sealed their hearts for their disbelief, so they do not believe except for a few—

Ruwwad Translation Center

[They were cursed] for breaking their covenant, rejecting the signs of Allah, killing the prophets unjustly, and for their saying, “Our hearts are wrapped up”. Rather, it is Allah Who has sealed them for their disbelief; so none of them will believe except a few –

A. J. Arberry

So, for their breaking the compact, and disbelieving in the signs of God, and slaying the Prophets without right, and for their saying, 'Our hearts are uncircumcised' -- nay, but God sealed them for their unbelief, so they believe not, except a few --

Abdul Haleem

And so for breaking their pledge, for rejecting God’s revelations, for unjustly killing their prophets, for saying ‘Our minds are closed’- No! God has sealed them in their disbelief, so they believe only a little-

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

Accursed are they then for their breach of the bond and their rejecting the commandments of Allah and their slaying the prophets without justification, and their saying: our hearts are uncircumcised. Aye! Allah hath set a seal upon them for their infidelity, wherefore they believe not but a little.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(They have incurred divine displeasure); In that they broke their covenant; that they rejected the signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; that they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; We need no more)";- Nay, Allah hath set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy, and little is it they believe;-

Abul Ala Maududi

(They have incurred Allah's wrath) for their breaking the covenant, and their rejection of the signs of Allah, and for slaying Prophets without right, and for saying: 'Our hearts are wrapped up in covers' -even though in fact Allah has sealed their hearts because of their unbelief, so that they scarcely believe

Ahmed Ali

So (they were punished) for breaking the covenant and disbelieving the signs of God, and for killing the prophets unjustly, and saying: "Our hearts are enfolded in covers," (though) in fact God had sealed them because of their unbelief; so they do not believe except a few;

Ahmed Raza Khan

So Allah cursed them because of their constantly breaking their covenant – and they disbelieved in the signs of Allah, and they used to wrongfully martyr the Prophets, and because they said, “Our hearts are covered”; in fact Allah has set a seal upon their hearts due to their disbelief, so that they do not accept faith, except a few.

Ali Quli Qarai

Then because of their breaking their covenant, their defiance of Allah’s signs, their killing of the prophets unjustly and for their saying, ‘Our hearts are uncircumcised’… Indeed, Allah has set a seal on them for their unfaith, so they do not have faith except a few.

Ali Ünal

And so because of their breaking their pledge, and their intentional ignoring of God’s signs (in the universe and in themselves) and their rejection of His Revelations, and their killing certain Prophets against all right, and their saying, "Our hearts have become callous (no longer having any ability to believe)." No! Rather, God has set a seal on their hearts because of their persistent unbelief, so that, with the exception of few, scarcely do they believe.

Amatul Rahman Omar

Then because of their breaking their covenant and their denial of the Messages of Allâh and their antagonising the Prophets without a just cause and their saying, `Our hearts are uncircumcised (and so cannot hear).´ Nay, (the truth however is) Allâh has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief so that they believe but a little.

English Literal

So with what their breaking/breaching (of) their promise/covenant, and their disbelief with God`s signs/verses/evidences, and their killing (of) the prophets, without right , and their saying: "Our hearts/minds (are) covered/uncomprehending." But God stamped/covered/closed/sealed on it, with their disbelief, so they do not believe except a few.

Faridul Haque

So Allah cursed them because of their constantly breaking their covenant - and they disbelieved in the signs of Allah, and they used to wrongfully martyr the Prophets, and because they said, "Our hearts are covered"; in fact Allah has set a seal upon their hearts due to their disbelief, so that they do not accept faith, except a few.

Hamid S. Aziz

And because of their boastful saying, "Verily, we have killed the Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah," - but they killed him not, nor did they crucify him, but it was obscured for them (or it appeared so to them). And verily, those who differ about him are in doubt concerning him; they have no knowledge thereof, but only follow a conjecture. Certainly, they slew him not!

Hilali & Khan

Because of their breaking the covenant, and of their rejecting the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allah, and of their killing the Prophets unjustly, and of their saying: "Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e. we do not understand what the Messengers say)" - nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And We raised the mountain above them at their covenant. And We said to them: Enter the door making obeisance. And We said to them: Violate not the Sabbath; and We took from them a firm covenant.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

Therefore, for their breaking their covenant and their disbelief in the communications of Allah and their killing the prophets wrongfully and their saying: Our hearts are covered; nay! Allah set a seal upon them owing to their unbelief, so they shall not believe except a few.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

Then because of their breaking of their covenant, and their disbelieving in the revelations of Allah, and their slaying of the prophets wrongfully, and their saying: Our hearts are hardened - Nay, but Allah set a seal upon them for their disbelief, so that they believe not save a few -

Muhammad Sarwar

However, because of their disbelief, disregard of their covenant, denial of God's revelations, murdering the Prophets without reason, and their saying that their hearts were covered, We sealed up their hearts. Only a few of them believe.

Qaribullah & Darwish

So, for their breaking of the covenant, and disbelieving the verses of Allah, and killing their Prophets without right and for saying, 'Our hearts are covered' no, but Allah has sealed them for their disbelief, so, except for a few, they do not believe.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

Because of their breaking the covenant, and their rejecting the Ayat of Allah, and their killing the Prophets unjustly, and their saying: "Our hearts are Ghulf," nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.

Wahiduddin Khan

But they broke their covenant; and they rejected the signs of God; and put the prophets to death without justification, and said, "Our hearts are sealed." It is God who has sealed their hearts, on account of their denial of the truth. Except for a few of them, they have no faith.

Talal Itani

But for their violation of their covenant, and their denial of God’s revelations, and their killing of the prophets unjustly, and their saying, “Our minds are closed.” In fact, God has sealed them for their disbelief, so they do not believe, except for a few.

Tafsir jalalayn

So, for their breaking (fa-bi-m naqdihim; the m is extra; the b' is causative and connected to a missing element [such as sabab, `reason'], in other words [it should be understood as] la`annhum bi-sabab naqdihim, `We cursed them for the reason of their breaking') their covenant and disbelieving in the signs of God, and slaying the prophets wrongfully, and for their saying, to the Prophet (s); `Our hearts are covered up', and cannot grasp what you say -- nay, but God sealed them for their disbelief, and so they cannot heed any admonition; so they do not believe, except for a few, among them, like `Abd Allh b. Salm and his companions.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

The Crimes of the Jews

Allah said,

فَبِمَا نَقْضِهِم مِّيثَاقَهُمْ وَكُفْرِهِم بَأيَاتِ اللّهِ

Because of their breaking the covenant, and their rejecting the Ayat of Allah,

The sins mentioned here are among the many sins that the Jews committed, which caused them to be cursed and removed far away from right guidance. The Jews broke the promises and vows that Allah took from them, and also rejected Allah's Ayat, meaning His signs and proofs, and the miracles that they witnessed at the hands of their Prophets.

Allah said,

وَقَتْلِهِمُ الَانْبِيَاء بِغَيْرِ حَقًّ

and their killing the Prophets unjustly,

because their many crimes and offenses against the Prophets of Allah, for they killed many Prophets, may Allah's peace be upon them

وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ

and their saying;"Our hearts are Ghulf,"

According to Ibn Abbas, Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, Ikrimah, As-Suddi and Qatadah.

meaning, wrapped with covering.

This is similar to the what the idolators said,

وَقَالُواْ قُلُوبُنَا فِى أَكِنَّةٍ مِمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ

And they say;"Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us." (41;5)

Allah said,

بَلْ طَبَعَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ

nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief,

It is as if they had given an excuse that their hearts do not understand what the Prophet says since their hearts are wrapped with coverings, so they claim.

Allah said that their hearts are sealed because of their disbelief, as we mentioned before in the explanation of Surah Al-Baqarah.

Allah then said,

فَلَ يُوْمِنُونَ إِلاَّ قَلِيلً



so they believe not but a little.

for their hearts became accustomed to Kufr, transgression and weak faith.
The Evil Accusation the Jews Uttered Against Maryam and Their Claim that They Killed `Isa

Allah said,

وَبِكُفْرِهِمْ وَقَوْلِهِمْ عَلَى مَرْيَمَ بُهْتَانًا عَظِيمًا