Surah Al-Hijr — Verse 12

Word Meanings:

• "Nuslukuhu" (نَسْلُكُهُ): We insert it, make it pass through, or penetrate into something. It conveys the idea of threading something into another, like threading a string through a bead.
• "Al-Mujrimin" (الْمُجْرِمِينَ): The criminals, those who persist in sin and disbelief, specifically referring here to the polytheists of Makkah who rejected the Prophet ﷺ.

Explanation of the Verse:

Just as We inserted disbelief, mockery of the messengers, and stubborn rejection into the hearts of the earlier nations who were destroyed for their crimes, in the very same way We insert this disbelief and rejection into the hearts of the criminals among your people, O Muhammad — the polytheists of Makkah who have committed the crime of denying Allah and belying His Messenger. This is not a random act; it is a just consequence of their own choice to turn away from the truth, to persist in arrogance, and to harden their hearts against the signs of Allah. The path of the earlier nations is well-known: they were given clear proofs, yet they rejected them, so Allah sealed their hearts with misguidance as a punishment for their deliberate rebellion. The same fate awaits those who continue in their criminal denial — they will not believe in the Reminder (the Qur'an) that has been sent down to you, just as their predecessors did not believe in their scriptures, and they will face the same destruction if they persist.

A Call to Reflection and Faith:

This verse carries a profound warning and a gentle invitation to every soul. It reminds us that the heart is a vessel — and we choose what fills it. When a person repeatedly turns away from the truth, mocks the messengers, and insists on sin, the heart gradually hardens until it becomes sealed, and guidance can no longer penetrate it. But the door of repentance remains open for those who have not yet reached that point. Do not let your heart become a prisoner of arrogance and denial. The Qur'an is a living miracle, a light that illuminates the darkest of hearts. Embrace it before the seal is set, and let your heart be among those that receive the light of faith, for Allah is ever ready to forgive and guide those who turn to Him sincerely. The destruction of the past nations is not a distant tale — it is a lesson for us today. Choose the path of humility and submission, and you will find peace in this life and salvation in the next.