Human Nature · Quran topic

Hearing

السمع · Sam'

A divine gift given for learning, pondering revelation, and answering the call of truth.

73 verses · 4 parts · 7 min read

Study guide based on

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

«السمع» · Volume 9

At a glance

Hearing is one of the greatest sensory faculties bestowed by Allah upon human beings, serving as the primary gateway to knowledge, understanding, and spiritual awakening. In the Quran, hearing is not merely the physical detection of acoustic vibrations, but an active faculty meant to understand divine speech, reflect upon signs in creation, and obey Allah and His Messenger.

Because hearing precedes visual perception in human embryonic development and connects people directly to the world of speech and meaning, the Quran consistently highlights it and places it before sight in most contexts. This priority underlines its indispensable role in learning and moral consciousness.

However, this blessing carries immense accountability: human beings will be questioned on how they utilized their ears, whether in seeking beneficial knowledge and listening to the Quran, or in consuming falsehood, backbiting, and heedlessness.

Key verses

Al-A'raf 7:204: Allah commands believers to listen attentively and keep silent when the Quran is recited so that they may receive divine mercy.
Al-Isra 17:36: Allah warns that hearing, sight, and the heart are sacred faculties for which every person will be held fully accountable.
Al-Mu'minun 23:78: Allah reminds humanity that He created their hearing, sight, and hearts, yet remarkably few show true gratitude for these blessings.
As-Sajdah 32:26: The verse challenges people to listen to the historical reports of destroyed past nations in order to extract lessons and moral warnings.
Az-Zumar 39:18: Allah praises those who listen carefully to speech and follow the best of it, identifying them as the people of true intellect.
An-Nur 24:51: True believers respond to the judgment of Allah and His Messenger with immediate and willing obedience, declaring that they have heard and obeyed.
Al-Baqarah 2:93: The verse condemns the defiant attitude of the Israelites who, when commanded to hold firmly to their covenant and listen, rebelled by saying they heard and disobeyed.

Words to know

السمع al-sam'

The faculty bestowed by Allah to perceive speech and sounds, used in the Quran for physical hearing, heartfelt understanding, and answering prayer.

Appears 185 times in the Quran.

Most common forms: سَمِعَ (78), سَمِيع (47), سَمْع (22), اسْتَمَعَ (16), أَسْمَعَ (13)

Root: س م ع

البصر al-basar

The divine faculty placed in the eyes to perceive visual forms, and in the heart and mind to distinguish good from evil.

Root: ب ص ر

الاستماع al-istima'

Intentionally and purposefully listening to speech in order to learn, understand, and benefit from it.

الإنصات al-insat

Remaining completely silent while listening attentively, which leads to deep contemplation and deriving guidance.

الإصغاء al-isgha'

Tilting one's ear and attention toward speech, often driven by an existing inclination or love for what is being said.

الصمم al-samam

An impairment that prevents hearing, used spiritually for the complete failure to listen to truth and guidance in a way that yields obedience.

الوقر al-waqr

A heaviness or barrier in the ears that hinders a person from properly understanding and benefiting from divine revelation.

Root: و ق ر

Pairing of hearing and sight

From the paper: «اقتران السمع والبصر»

In thirty-eight verses, the Quran pairs hearing with sight, overwhelmingly placing hearing first An-Nahl 16:78, As-Sajdah 32:9, Al-Isra 17:36, Yunus 10:31, Al-Mu'minun 23:78. Contemporary scholars note that hearing holds priority because an individual without hearing is isolated from the human world of speech and communication, whereas sound impressions reach conscious awareness more deeply and create stronger memory Al-Haqqah 69:12. This order also aligns with human embryology, where the auditory system develops, matures, and begins functioning in the womb during the fifth month, long before vision develops Fussilat 41:53. Notably, when mentioning the physical organs, the Quran places the eye before the ear due to physical placement on the head Al-Ma'idah 5:45, but when mentioning the perceptive faculties, hearing precedes sight because auditory centers precede visual centers in the brain Hud 11:1.

Hearing is also an established divine attribute of Allah, who is named "Al-Sami'" thirty-eight times Ash-Shura 42:11. His hearing is frequently coupled with His knowledge Al-Baqarah 2:127, His sight Ash-Shura 42:11, and His nearness Saba 34:50, signifying that His auditory perception encompasses every sound, secret, and whisper across all creation, as affirmed when revelation descended to answer a woman pleading her case Al-Mujadilah 58:1.

«وقد قدم القرآن ذكر السمع على البصر في أكثر الآيات، مما يدل على الأهمية الكبرى للعمل الذي يقوم به السمع في حياة الإنسان تعلّمًا وتعليمًا.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 9

Responsibility of hearing

From the paper: «مسؤولية السمع»

Hearing is a profound divine gift that demands active gratitude, yet few show thankfulness Al-Mu'minun 23:78. Humanity carries direct accountability for how this faculty is directed Al-Isra 17:36. Fulfilling this responsibility requires utilizing hearing in beneficial pursuits while guarding it rigorously from harm.

Beneficial uses include:

Learning, reflecting on cosmic signs like sleep Ar-Rum 30:23, and learning from the downfall of past nations As-Sajdah 32:26.
Attentively listening to the Quran to receive divine mercy Al-A'raf 7:204, following the finest speech Az-Zumar 39:18, and responding with tears of truth like the Negus delegation Al-Ma'idah 5:83.
Instantly obeying divine commands by declaring "we hear and we obey" Al-Baqarah 2:285, At-Taghabun 64:16, An-Nur 24:51, unlike those who stubbornly say "we hear and disobey" Al-Baqarah 2:93, or mockingly play while listening Al-Anbiya 21:2, Al-Jathiyah 45:7-8, Fussilat 41:26.

Conversely, believers must protect their ears from harm:

Shunning backbiting Al-Hujurat 49:12, because listening to slander makes one a participant in eating a brother's flesh.
Verifying rumors rather than amplifying falsehoods An-Nur 24:16, Al-Hujurat 49:6, emulating the Prophet as an ear attentive only to goodness At-Tawbah 9:61.
Walking away from gatherings where faith is mocked An-Nisa 4:140, avoiding gossip and leakages of fear An-Nisa 4:83, and staying away from idle, misleading talk such as vanity and sinful music Luqman 31:6-7. A believer's ear acts like a bee seeking pure flowers, never like a fly attracted to filth.

«لذا فمسؤوليتنا تجاه السمع تكون بأن نستخدمه في الأمور النافعة لنا في دنيانا وأخرانا، وأن نصونه عما يضرنا في دنيانا وأخرانا.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 9

Styles of mentioning hearing in the Quran

From the paper: «أساليب ذكر السمع في القرآن الكريم»

The Quran employs varied linguistic styles to instill the significance of hearing in the human conscience:

Praise: Commending those of sound intellect who listen carefully to speech and follow the best of it Az-Zumar 39:17-18, respond to divine judgments with submission An-Nur 24:51, and weep when hearing revelation Al-Ma'idah 5:83.
Censure: Blaming those who possess ears yet fail to grasp the truth, reducing them below grazing livestock Al-A'raf 7:179, or describing them as dead corpses unable to hear An-Naml 27:80-81.
Command: Ordering communities to hear with submission, whether in the firm covenant given to the Israelites Al-Baqarah 2:93, the balanced command of piety and obedience given to believers At-Taghabun 64:16, the injunction to listen quietly to the Quran Al-A'raf 7:204, or the universal summons to ponder the parable of the powerless fly Al-Hajj 22:73.
Prohibition: Forbidding believers from acting like hypocrites who claim they heard while their hearts are deaf Al-Anfal 8:21, or eavesdroppers who peddle lies Ash-Shu'ara 26:223.
Emphasis: Stressing the accountability of hearing through assertive particles Al-Isra 17:36, and pointing out Allah's exclusive creation of perception Al-Mu'minun 23:78, Al-Ahqaf 46:26.
Rhetorical Questioning: Denouncing polytheists for not using their hearing to reflect on perpetual darkness Al-Qasas 28:71 or historical ruins As-Sajdah 32:26.
Restriction and Negation: Confining genuine spiritual response only to those who truly hear, while likening deniers to the dead Al-An'am 6:36, An-Naml 27:80, and negating any functional hearing from those who cover truth with disbelief Al-A'raf 7:179.

«أكد كلامه عن وسائل المعرفة الإنسانية السمع والبصر والفؤاد بـ(إن)، و(كل)، والجملة الاسمية؛ وذلك لتمكين المعنى في نفوس المخاطبين، وهو أن وسائل المعرفة والإدراك العظيمة هذه سيسأل عنها الإنسان يوم القيامة.»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 9

Domains of hearing

From the paper: «مجالات السمع»

The Quran directs the faculty of hearing across four broad spheres:

Recognizing Divine Favors: Hearing is a primary gift enabling human beings to comprehend divine commands and show gratitude An-Naml 27:81. While believers listen, weep, and apply the best speech Az-Zumar 39:18, Al-Haqqah 69:12, Al-Jinn 72:13, earning Paradise where no vain talk is heard, deniers treat hearing as a curse Fatir 35:22 and will hear the terrifying roar of Hell.

Recited Revelation: Believers are commanded to listen attentively and contemplate the Quran Al-Baqarah 2:143, Sad 38:29, cultivating a civilizational character where hearts soften and skin trembles out of reverence. This stands in contrast to stubborn disbelievers whose locked hearts lead to spiritual deafness.

Cosmic Signs: Hearing must be directed toward the visual book of creation, pondering signs like the transition of day and night Yunus 10:67, reflecting on the natural order, and utilizing intellect to uncover universal laws Muhammad 47:24, Ar-Ra'd 13:4.

Historical Lessons and Divine Transcendence: Hearing the stories of previous nations like 'Ad, Thamud, and Pharaoh serves as an admonition against tyranny Yusuf 12:111, Al-Fajr 89:6-13, As-Sajdah 32:26. Furthermore, hearing exposes the absurdity of idol worship, as Ibrahim argued that carved stones cannot hear, see, or benefit their worshippers Maryam 19:41-42, while the true God constantly hears and sees all things, answering the distressed in their time of need Ta-Ha 20:46, An-Naml 27:62.

«وهكذا نرى كيف اهتم الإسلام بحاسة السمع التي هي آلة مهمة في معرفة الحقائق في كل من الكتابين كتاب الله المسطور (القرآن)، وكتاب الله المنظور (الكون).»

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 9

Takeaways

Treat your hearing as an accountable trust
Allah will question you regarding everything you choose to listen to, so intentionally direct your hearing toward beneficial knowledge and turn away from gossip, slander, and vanity.
Practice silent attentiveness during recitation
When the Quran is being recited, remain silent and listen with full reflection, because quiet contemplation opens the soul to receive divine mercy and softens the heart.
Adopt the posture of 'we hear and we obey'
True faith is demonstrated by immediate and willing compliance when divine guidance reaches your ears, rather than delaying, arguing, or ignoring the truth.
Refuse to listen to backbiting and unverified claims
Listening to slander makes you a complicit partner in the sin; protect your ears and verify any news that comes from untrustworthy sources before passing judgment.
Learn from historical accounts and cosmic signs
Do not treat historical accounts or natural phenomena as passive background noise; use auditory reflection to grasp the lessons of past nations and the majesty of creation.

Reflect

How much of your daily listening is spent on speech that benefits your heart, compared to idle chatter, music, or harmful gossip?
When you hear the Quran recited, do you consciously quiet your tongue and mind to reflect on its meaning, or do you allow it to play as mere background noise?
In what area of your life are you hesitating to say 'we hear and we obey' to a clear divine command?

Go deeper

Linguistic meaning

The sense of the ear through which sounds and speech are received and recognized.

يقال: «سمعته وسمعت به، واستمعوه وتسامعوا به، واستمع إلى حديثه، وألقى إليه سمعه، وملأ مسمعيه ومسامعه وسامعته، وهو منّي بمرأى ومسمع. وسمّع به: نوّه به. وفعل كذا رياء وسمعة، وإنما يفعل هذا تسمعة وترئية، وذهب سمعه في الناس: صيته».

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 9

Technical meaning

A faculty placed in a living organism to perceive sounds through the ear, gifted specifically to human beings to comprehend speech and sound.

وقد جاء تعريفه في كتب الاصطلاح أنه: «قوة في الكائن الحي تدرك بها الأصوات بواسطة الأذن».

موسوعة التفسير الموضوعي للقرآن الكريم

مركز تفسير للدراسات القرآنية

Volume 9

How it differs from related terms

البصر Sight: While hearing perceives speech and sounds through the ear, sight perceives forms and visual shapes through the eye, though both faculties require the intellect to realize their higher spiritual purpose.
الاستماع Intentional Listening: While hearing can occur unintentionally without deliberate effort, listening is an acquired, intentional action where a person actively focuses on speech to benefit from it.
الإنصات Silent Attentiveness: It adds to hearing by combining complete silence with focused attention, which enables the listener to contemplate deeply, deduce rulings, and attain divine guidance.
الإصغاء Inclined Listening: Unlike neutral hearing, it involves tilting one's ear and attention with an existing emotional inclination, passion, or love for what is being said, whether truth or falsehood.
الصمم Deafness: The direct opposite of hearing, representing the physical defect that blocks sound, or the spiritual failure to receive truth and guidance in a way that leads to obedience.
الوقر Heaviness of Ear: A heaviness or burden in the ear that partially hinders hearing, functioning spiritually as a divine barrier caused by turning away from truth that prevents the heart from benefiting from revelation.