Quranic theme
Deaf
الصم
14 verses
Mentions of the deaf in the text bypass physical hearing loss to describe a deliberate, active shutting out of divine reality. People who possess functioning ears are categorized alongside the dumb and the blind because they refuse to process what they hear, reaching a point where they will never return (2:18). This deafness is not an organic failure but a willful rejection of guidance, where sound enters the ear but fails to reach a reasoning mind.
How is a deaf heart described?
The text draws a sharp line between perceiving a noise and comprehending truth. Calling to those who reject belief is compared directly to a herdsman shouting at a flock: the animals hear the physical vibration of a shout and a cry, but they understand nothing (2:171). The Prophet is asked rhetorically if it is possible to make the deaf hear when they refuse to use their minds (10:42). The severity of this condition is absolute. Those who are willfully deaf and dumb, refusing to reason, are categorized as the worst creatures in God’s sight (8:22). As al-Wahidi notes (Al-Tafsir al-Basit, 15/ 91), this condition mirrors physical deafness because the individuals entirely abandon any benefit from the warnings they actually hear.
Is it possible to make them listen?
The verses repeatedly lift the burden of this spiritual deafness off the Prophet’s shoulders. He is instructed to say that he warns only through Revelation, and that the deaf will simply not hear the warning call (21:45). The condition is paired directly with death, telling him, "You cannot make the dead hear, you cannot make the deaf listen to your call when they turn their backs and leave" (27:80, 30:52). This state often stems from arrogance and a false sense of security. The text cites a past nation who thought no harm could come to them, causing them to become blind and deaf to God; even after God turned to them in mercy, many reverted to their blind and deaf state (5:71). True believers are defined by the exact opposite response. When reminded of their Lord’s signs, they do not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to them (25:73).
What are the consequences of ignoring the signs?
The refusal to listen traps individuals in a state of spiritual deprivation where they remain deaf, dumb, and in total darkness (6:39). The text establishes a stark comparison between humanity's two paths, asking if a group that is blind and deaf can ever be considered equal to those who see and hear well (11:24). By treating the divine message as mere background noise, they sever their own lifeline to guidance and are left to stray.
On the Day of Resurrection, the internal choice of the disbelievers is manifested as a terrifying physical reality. Those whom God leaves astray for their rejection are gathered together, lying on their faces, stripped of the senses they once abused—rendered blind, dumb, and deaf. Hell becomes their permanent home, and whenever the Fire goes down, it is made to blaze more fiercely for them (17:97).
Verses
All 14 verses, in mushaf order.
صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ
deaf, dumb, and blind: they will never return.
وَمَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ كَمَثَلِ ٱلَّذِى يَنْعِقُ بِمَا لَا يَسْمَعُ إِلَّا دُعَآءً وَنِدَآءً ۚ صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Calling to disbelieversis like a herdsman calling to things that hear nothing but a shout and a cry: they are deaf, dumb, and blind, and they understand nothing.
وَحَسِبُوٓا۟ أَلَّا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ فَعَمُوا۟ وَصَمُّوا۟ ثُمَّ تَابَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ثُمَّ عَمُوا۟ وَصَمُّوا۟ كَثِيرٌ مِّنْهُمْ ۚ وَٱللَّهُ بَصِيرٌۢ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ
they thought no harm could come to them and so became blind and deaf [to God]. God turned to them in mercy but many of them again became blind and deaf: God is fully aware of their actions.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا صُمٌّ وَبُكْمٌ فِى ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ ۗ مَن يَشَإِ ٱللَّهُ يُضْلِلْهُ وَمَن يَشَأْ يَجْعَلْهُ عَلَىٰ صِرَٰطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ
Those who reject Our signs are deaf, dumb, and in total darkness. God leaves whoever He will to stray, and sets whoever He will on a straight path.
۞ إِنَّ شَرَّ ٱلدَّوَآبِّ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلْبُكْمُ ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
the worst creatures in God’s eyes are those who are [wilfully] deaf and dumb, who do not reason.
وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَسْتَمِعُونَ إِلَيْكَ ۚ أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ وَلَوْ كَانُوا۟ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ
Some of them do listen to you: but can you make the deaf hear if they will not use their minds?
۞ مَثَلُ ٱلْفَرِيقَيْنِ كَٱلْأَعْمَىٰ وَٱلْأَصَمِّ وَٱلْبَصِيرِ وَٱلسَّمِيعِ ۚ هَلْ يَسْتَوِيَانِ مَثَلًا ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
These two groups are like the blind and the deaf as compared with those who can see and hear well: can they be alike? How can you not take heed?
وَمَن يَهْدِ ٱللَّهُ فَهُوَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِ ۖ وَمَن يُضْلِلْ فَلَن تَجِدَ لَهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءَ مِن دُونِهِۦ ۖ وَنَحْشُرُهُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ عُمْيًا وَبُكْمًا وَصُمًّا ۖ مَّأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ كُلَّمَا خَبَتْ زِدْنَـٰهُمْ سَعِيرًا
[Prophet], anyone God guides is truly guided, and you will find no protector other than Him for anyone He leaves astray. On the Day of Resurrection We shall gather them, lying on their faces, blind, dumb, and deaf. Hell will be their Home. Whenever the Fire goes down, We shall make it blaze more fiercely for them.
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أُنذِرُكُم بِٱلْوَحْىِ ۚ وَلَا يَسْمَعُ ٱلصُّمُّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا مَا يُنذَرُونَ
Say, ‘I warn you only through the Revelation.’ The deaf will not hear the warning call,
وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِّرُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِمْ لَمْ يَخِرُّوا۟ عَلَيْهَا صُمًّا وَعُمْيَانًا
who, when reminded of their Lord’s signs, do not turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to them;
إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
You cannot make the dead hear, you cannot make the deaf listen to your call when they turn their backs and leave,
فَإِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ ٱلدُّعَآءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا۟ مُدْبِرِينَ
You [Prophet] cannot make the dead hear and you cannot make the deaf hear your call when they turn their backs and leave;
أَفَأَنتَ تُسْمِعُ ٱلصُّمَّ أَوْ تَهْدِى ٱلْعُمْىَ وَمَن كَانَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ مُّبِينٍ
Can you [Prophet] make the deaf hear? Or guide either the blind or those who are in gross error?
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ لَعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ فَأَصَمَّهُمْ وَأَعْمَىٰٓ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ
These are the ones God has rejected, making their ears deaf and their eyes blind.