Al-Mulk 67:10
The Sovereignty · Meccan · Juz 29 · Page 562
Listening and Reasoning
وَقَالُواْ لَوۡ كُنَّا نَسۡمَعُ أَوۡ نَعۡقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِيٓ أَصۡحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ ١٠
And they say: Had we been wont to listen or have sense, we had not been among the dwellers in the flames.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
They say: “Had we listened or used our reason, we would not be among the people of the blaze.”
Insight
Elmalılı sees two paths here: listening to revelation where reason cannot reach, and using reason well where there is no report. Allah had given them both ears and minds; they chose deafness and followed their own desires.
Reflect
Today, take time both to listen to a piece of advice and to think it over.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›