Surah Al-Baqarah 2:88
سُورَةُ البَقَرَةِ · Medinan · Verse 88 of 286
وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌۢ ۚ بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَقَلِيلًۭا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Translation
They say, ‘Our hearts are impenetrably wrapped [against whatever you say],’ but God has rejected them for their disbelief: they have little faith.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse from Surah al-Baqarah sheds light on the mindset of a group among the Children of Israel, exposing their resistance to the truth brought by Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Allah, the Exalted, speaks directly about them, revealing their inner thoughts and motives.
A Shift in Address
The verse begins, "And they said, قلوبنا غلف (Our hearts are covered)..." Notice the phrase "they said." Ibn Ashur, a renowned scholar, points out a subtle but profound shift here, known as *iltifat* in Arabic rhetoric. Instead of addressing the Children of Israel directly, as in preceding verses, Allah speaks about them in the third person. This change signals a turning point in the discussion. More significantly, it conveys a sense of divine distancing or turning away from them due to their "defects and abominations," as Ibn Ashur notes. It's as if their actions have rendered them unworthy of direct address.
Their Claim: "Hearts Covered"
The core of their statement is "قلوبنا غلف" (qulubuna ghulf). The word غلف (ghulf) is the plural of أغلف (aghlaf), meaning something that is heavily covered or wrapped. The Children of Israel used this phrase with an air of mockery and dismissal. Ibn Ashur explains that they intended to cut off the Prophet's hope for their conversion. Their hearts, they claimed, were either:
1. So covered that nothing of his message could penetrate them.
2. Already full of existing wisdom and knowledge, making them self-sufficient and immune to what they considered "falsehoods." As al-Zamakhshari adds, this could imply their hearts were like containers already full of truth, needing no more.
This claim mirrors the idolaters' words in Surah Fussilat (41:5), "Our hearts are in coverings from that to which you invite us."
Allah's Response: "Rather, Allah has cursed them"
Allah immediately refutes their arrogant claim with the strong particle "بل" (bal), meaning "rather" or "on the contrary." This word powerfully dismisses their assertion. Allah declares, "بل لعنهم الله بكفرهم" (bal la'anahum Allah bi-kufrihim – Rather, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief).
The word "لعنهم" (la'anahum), meaning "cursed them," signifies being distanced from Allah's mercy and abandoned from His aid and guidance. Critically, Allah states the reason for this curse: "بكفرهم" (bi-kufrihim – *for* their disbelief). As Ibn Ashur and al-Razi elaborate, this is a direct consequence of their *chosen* path of disbelief and their deliberate turning away from the truth. Their hearts were not inherently unable to believe; they were created with the capacity for truth. The curse, and the resulting inability to see truth, was a just punishment for their persistent and defiant rejection, not an inherent defect in their creation.
The Outcome: "Little Do They Believe"
The verse concludes with "فقليلًا ما يؤمنون" (faqalilan ma yu'minun – so little do they believe). The particle "فـ" (fa-) indicates a direct consequence of being cursed. The word "قليلًا" (qalilan), meaning "little," is intensified by the additional "ما" (ma), emphasizing the extreme scarcity of their faith.
Scholars like Ibn Ashur, al-Razi, and al-Zamakhshari offer several interpretations for "little do they believe":
1. Very *few individuals* among them would come to believe.
2. They would only believe in a *small part* of the truth, accepting what aligns with their existing beliefs (like Allah's oneness or Moses' prophethood) but rejecting new revelations.
3. In Arabic usage, "little" can sometimes be a rhetorical way of saying "none at all." Thus, it could imply they hardly believe anything of true benefit.
Regardless of the specific nuance, the wording underscores the profound spiritual barrenness that resulted from their chosen path of disbelief and their subsequent expulsion from divine mercy.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Baqarah 2:88 is discussed in 6 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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