Al-Qur'an Surah At-Tawbah Verse 127

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And when a Sūrah is sent down, they look at each other (as if saying): “Is there someone watching you?” Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts, because they are a people who do not understand.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Whenever a sûrah is revealed, they look at one another, ˹saying,˺ “Is anyone watching you?” Then they slip away. ˹It is˺ Allah ˹Who˺ has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not comprehend.

Ruwwad Translation Center

Whenever a Chapter is revealed, they look at one another [saying], “Is anyone watching you?” Then they slip away. Allah has turned their hearts away because they are a people who do not understand.

A. J. Arberry

And whenever a sura is sent down, they look one at another: 'Does anyone see you?' Then they turn away. God has turned away their hearts, for that they are a people who do not understand.

Abdul Haleem

Whenever a sura is revealed, they look at each other and say, ‘Is anyone watching you?’ and then they turn away- God has turned their hearts away because they are people who do not use their reason.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And whenever a Surah is sent down they look on at each other as though saying: observeth you anyone? Thereafter they turn to go; Allah hath turned their hearts, for verily they are people who understand not.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Whenever there cometh down a Sura, they look at each other, (saying), "Doth anyone see you?" Then they turn aside; Allah hath turned their hearts (from the light); for they are a people that understand not.

Abul Ala Maududi

And whenever a surah is revealed, they glance at each other as though saying: "Is anyone watching?" Then they slip away. Allah has turned away their hearts for they are a people who are bereft of understanding.

Ahmed Ali

Whenever a Surah is revealed they look at each other (so as to ask): "Is anyone looking at Us?" and then turn away. Indeed God has turned their hearts away (from the truth), for they cannot discern the law of heaven.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And whenever a chapter is sent down, one of them looks at the other; “Is there someone watching you?” – and then they turn away; Allah has inverted their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.

Ali Quli Qarai

Whenever a surah is sent down they look at one another: ‘Is anybody observing you?’ Then they slip away. Allah has turned aside their hearts, for they are a people who do not understand.

Ali Ünal

Whenever a surah is sent down (and the Messenger is reciting it in the presence of the Muslims), they glance at each other (as though saying), "Is there anyone who sees you?" and then they slip away. God has turned their hearts away (from the truth) because they are a people who do not ponder and try to grasp the truth.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And whenever a Surah is revealed, these (hypocrites) look one at another (as if to ask), `Is anyone watching you?´ Then they turn away. Allâh has turned away their hearts (from the Light) because they are a people devoid of understanding.

English Literal

And when any chapter of the Koran was descended, some of them looked to some, (and said): "Does from anyone see you?" Then they went away/diverted , God diverted their hearts/minds , because they are (E) a nation (that) do not understand/know .

Faridul Haque

And whenever a chapter is sent down, one of them looks at the other; "Is there someone watching you?" - and then they turn away; Allah has inverted their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.

Hamid S. Aziz

And whenever a surah (verse) is sent down, some of them look at the others, (as if to say), "Does any one see you?" (i.e. furtively to make sure their guilt is not observed) Then they turn away! Allah has turned their heart, for that they are a people who discern not.

Hilali & Khan

And whenever there comes down a Surah (chapter from the Quran), they look at one another (saying): "Does any one see you?" Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts (from the light) because they are a people that understand not.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

See they not that they are tried once or twice in every year, yet they repent not, nor do they mind.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And whenever a chapter is revealed, they cast glances at one another: Does any one see you? Then they turn away: Allah has turned away their hearts because they are a people who do not understand.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And whenever a surah is revealed, they look one at another (as who should say): Doth anybody see you? Then they turn away. Allah turneth away their hearts because they are a folk who understand not.

Muhammad Sarwar

When a chapter (of the Quran) is revealed, (it upsets them). They look at one another and their eyes silently ask this question, "Has any one noticed the disappointment on our faces?" Then they walk away. In fact, God has turned their hearts away (from the truth); they are a people who have no understanding.

Qaribullah & Darwish

Whenever a chapter is sent down, they glance at each other, (asking): 'Does anyone see you' Then they turn away. Allah has turned away their hearts, for they are a nation who do not understand.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And whenever there comes down a Surah, they look at one another (saying): "Does any one see you" Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts because they are a people that understand not.

Wahiduddin Khan

Whenever a chapter is revealed, they glance at each other, asking, "Is anyone watching?" Then they turn away. God has turned their hearts away, because they are people who do not understand.

Talal Itani

And whenever a chapter is revealed, they look at one another, “Does anyone see you?” Then they slip away. God has diverted their hearts, because they are a people who do not understand.

Tafsir jalalayn

And whenever a sra is revealed, wherein is mention of them, and the Prophet (s) recites it, they look at one another, desiring to flee, and saying; `Will anyone see you?', if you get up [and flee]?, and so if no one can see them they get up [and leave], otherwise they stay put. Then they turn away, persisting in their disbelief. God turns their hearts away, from guidance, because they are a folk who do not understand, the truth, for they do not reflect [on it].

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

And whenever there comes down a Surah, they look at one another (saying);"Does any one see you!" Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts because they are a people that understand not.

This describes the hypocrites that when a Surah is revealed to the Messenger of Allah,
نَّظَرَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى بَعْضٍ
(they look at one another), they turn their heads, right and left, saying,
هَلْ يَرَاكُم مِّنْ أَحَدٍ ثُمَّ انصَرَفُواْ
("Does any one see you!" Then they turn away. ..) turning away from, and shunning the truth.

This is the description of hypocrites in this life, for they do not remain where the truth is being declared, neither accepting nor understanding it, just as Allah said in other Ayat,

فَمَا لَهُمْ عَنِ التَّذْكِرَةِ مُعْرِضِينَ

كَأَنَّهُمْ حُمُرٌ مُّسْتَنفِرَةٌ

فَرَّتْ مِن قَسْوَرَةٍ

Then what is wrong with them that they turn away from admonition As if they were wild donkeys. Fleeing from a lion. (74;49-51)

and,

فَمَالِ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ قِبَلَكَ مُهْطِعِينَ

عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الشِّمَالِ عِزِينَ

So what is the matter with those who disbelieve that they hasten to hear from you. (Sitting) in groups on the right and on the left. (70;36-37)

This Ayah also means, what is the matter with these people who turn away from you to the right and to the left, to escape from truth and revert to falsehood.

Allah's statement,
ثُمَّ انصَرَفُواْ صَرَفَ اللّهُ قُلُوبَهُم
Then they turn away. Allah has turned their hearts (from Truth) is similar to,

فَلَمَّا زَاغُواْ أَزَاغَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ

So when they turned away, Allah turned their hearts away. (61;5).

Allah said next,

بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لاَّ يَفْقَهُون


because they are a people that understand not.

They neither understand Allah's Word nor attempt to comprehend it nor want it. Rather, they are too busy, turning away from it. This is why they ended up in this condition