Surah Baqarah Ayat 88 in Arabic Text
English Translation
Here you can read various translations of verse 88
And they said, “Our hearts are wrapped.” But, [in fact], Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is it that they believe.
“They say, “Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah’s Word: we need no more).” Nay, Allah’s curse is on them for their blasphemy: Little is it they believe.
They say, “Our hearts are secure.” Nay, the fact is that Allah has cursed them for their disbelief; so they are little disposed to believe.
And they say, “Our hearts are wrapped (i.e. do not hear or understand Allah’s Word).” Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe.
And they say: Our hearts are hardened. Nay, but Allah hath cursed them for their unbelief. Little is that which they believe.
And they said, “Our hearts are encased.” No indeed, (but) Allah has cursed them for their disbelief; so, little do they believe.
They say, ‘Our hearts are impenetrably wrapped [against whatever you say],’ but God has rejected them for their disbelief: they have little faith.
یہ کہتے ہیں کہ ہمارے دل غلاف والے ہیں نہیں نہیں بلکہ ان کے کفر کی وجہ سے انہیں اللہ تعالیٰ نے ملعون کردیا ہے، ان کا ایمان بہت ہی تھوڑا ہے
Quran 2 Verse 88 Explanation
For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Baqarah ayat 88, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.
Ala-Maududi
(2:88) They say: “Our hearts are well-protected.”[94] No! The fact is that Allah has cursed them because of their denying the Truth. So, scarcely do they believe.
94. They said, in effect, that they were so staunch in their beliefs that their convictions would remain unaffected regardless of what was said. Such a claim is the hallmark of those bigots whose minds are seized by irrational prejudice. Nothing can be a matter of greater shame for human beings than the so-called firmness of conviction which they often boast of. What can be more foolish than adherence to inherited beliefs and convictions when their falseness is established by overwhelmingly strong arguments?
Ibn-Kathir
88. And they say, “Our hearts are Ghulf.” Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe.
Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn `Abbas said that,
(And they say, “Our hearts are Ghulf.”), means, “Our hearts are screened.” Mujahid also said that,
(And they say, “Our hearts are Ghulf.”), means, “They are covered.”`Ikrimah said, “There is a stamp on them.” Abu Al-`Aliyah said, “They do not comprehend.” Mujahid and Qatadah said that Ibn `Abbas read the Ayah in a way that means, “Our hearts contain every type of knowledge and do not need the knowledge that you (O Muhammad) have.” This is the opinion of `Ata’ and Ibn `Abbas.
(Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief) meaning, “Allah expelled them and deprived them of every type of righteousness.” Qatadah said that the Ayah,
(So little is that which they believe.) means, “Only a few of them believe.” Allah’s statement,
(And they say, “Our hearts are Ghulf.”) is similar to His statement,
(And they say: “Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us) (41:5).
This is why Allah said here,
(Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe.) meaning, “It is not as they claim. Rather, their hearts are cursed and stamped,” just as Allah said in Surat An-Nisa’ (4:155),
(And of their saying: “Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e. we do not understand what the Messengers say) ـ nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.)
There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of Allah’s statement,
(So little is that which they believe.) and His statement,
(So they believe not except a few). Some scholars said that the Ayat indicate that a few of them would believe, or that their faith is minute, because they believe in Resurrection and in Allah’s reward and punishment that Musa foretold. Yet, this faith will not benefit them since it is overshadowed by their disbelief in what Muhammad brought them. Some scholars said that the Jews did not actually believe in anything and that Allah said,
(So little is that which they believe), meaning, they do not believe. This meaning is similar to the Arabic expression, “Hardly have I seen anything like this,” meaning, “I have never seen anything like this.”
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