When Good Words Fall on Deaf Ears:
“Wa ‘alaa sam’i-him” means “and their hearing”.
When the heart and the hearing are already sealed and they hear something good, it almost bothers them because the message is trying to break through a seal. They could be in the best of gatherings where every other person around them is moved or in tears out of the love, hope and fear of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala), and they feel nothing and want to leave that place.
In the historical context, any warning or anything that Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would say to these people would be either ignored by them or they would mock or make a joke of it. Hence, they would never be able to understand the good or the benefits of what Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) would say.
The Shroud Over Sight:
Historical context: When their eyes are covered, they cannot see the flawless character of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). They cannot see how he would live his life. For example, the way he would be with his family or his companions etc.
“Wa ‘alaaa absaarihim ghishaa wah” means “and even on their eyes there is a cover or veil placed”.
When they refuse to see the truth, the guidance, the world around them, then there is a seal placed over their eyes such that they can physically see everything around but they will not be able to reflect on them.
How One Message Resonates Across Different Hearts:
In this ayat, the hearts the hearing and the eyes are sealed. But the hearing, “sam’i”, is the only one mentioned in singular form. Both hearts and eyes are in plural form. To understand this lets consider an example. When we are in a gathering and listening to a lecture, everyone is sitting in a different position and hence has a slightly different view or angle of the presenter. At the same time, everyone’s heart will also be in a different state. Some hearts will be eager to listen, and some not. Hence, it’s multiple points of views and different states of the heart. But all our ears are experiencing the same sound. We are unified in what is heard. This is actually the power of the Quran. It will hit all the people of different points of views, different states of hearts. But the message itself will be the same message. The way it will impact each individual will be different. It’s like the imagery of the rain. The rain is the same but what it produces on the earth is so different.
The Ultimate Consequence of a Sealed Heart:
“Wa lahum ‘azaabun ‘azeem” means “and for them is an exclusively great punishment”.
Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) does not love to punish people. What would Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) get by punishing us? He created human beings to show his rahmah. But the worst and the most wretched of people do deserve punishment. And the greatest of all punishments is already in this ayat. When the heart is sealed, when the ears cannot benefit from the Quran, there is no greater punishment.
Meaning
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has placed a hard seal on their hearts and their hearing, and even on their eyes there is a cover or veil placed. And for them there is an exclusively great punishment.