Al-A‘raf 179: They Have Eyes but Do Not See; Hearts but Do Not Understand
23 May 2021
Why do we sometimes fail to see a truth standing right before our eyes?
Question: Is seeing merely looking, and understanding merely hearing?
Verse 179 of Surah Al-A‘raf speaks of people who have hearts but do not understand, eyes but do not see, and ears but do not hear.
It is easy to direct these expressions only at others.
What is truly difficult is reading them as a warning for ourselves.
Hearing Information and Understanding It
We hear many things every day. We can access many people’s thoughts, interpretations, and advice.
But not every word we hear is true.
A person speaking at length does not show that they know everything about what they describe.
Sometimes we hear a few true statements in a talk and accept the rest without questioning it.
Yet information that has not been evaluated as a whole may mislead us.
Question: How much of the information we hear do we investigate, and how much do we merely repeat?
Saying that someone who does a good deed will necessarily see all the troubles in their life end is not a correct generalization.
The value of charitable spending is one thing; guaranteeing the same worldly outcome to everyone is another.
We should not make easy judgments about someone who worships, helps others, or experiences hardship.
To understand realities, we must be open not only to words we like, but also to questions that make us think.
Understanding with the Heart
The verse’s expression “They have hearts, but do not understand” particularly draws our attention.
People may carry knowledge in their minds without ever reflecting it in their behavior.
Let us think of someone who explains honesty but does not act honestly in their own transactions.
Let us think of someone who speaks about the importance of compassion but does not listen to the troubles of someone at home.
Then the issue is not merely knowing the words.
It is how what we know changes us.
Knowing a truth and living according to it are not the same thing.
Sometimes we focus on the form of our worship and neglect the morality it should instill in us.
Sometimes we easily see someone else’s mistake while overlooking our own fault.
Reflecting on our heart’s understanding means recognizing this distance.
The Meaning Behind What Is Visible
When we earn money in a job, we may say, “I alone did this.”
We may have worked, grown tired, and received the return.
But we should also remember the circumstances that made our work possible, others’ efforts, and the blessings Allah has given.
In the tomato that reaches our table are the soil, water, sun, and the efforts of those who grow and transport it.
Reflecting on the creation behind all these causes deepens our understanding of gratitude.
This awareness may distance people from arrogance.
Question: Do we see what we possess solely as the result of our own power?
The person providing for a household should not consider the other people at home indebted to their success.
Effort is valuable. But effort does not give a person the right to belittle others.
Making Definitive Judgments About People
We can immediately judge someone by their appearance, clothing, or financial situation.
Sometimes we speak about them without knowing their life.
This attitude is often based on conjecture rather than knowledge.
Imagining that we know people’s intentions completely is a great mistake.
We should avoid claiming to know with certainty in whom goodness and virtue reside.
We should want for others the fair assessment we want for ourselves.
It is important to investigate the truth of news we hear and to pause and think before speaking about a person.
Bringing Truth into Our Lives
Question: Which truth we know are we postponing putting into practice today?
Understanding our spouse, listening to our child, questioning our earnings, or noticing someone in need…
Knowledge must become visible in these areas of our lives.
When reading the Qur’an, I should consider not only what the verse says to someone else, but also what it says to me.
Reading Al-A‘raf 179 as a warning directed at ourselves means abandoning the claim “I see everything.”
The real issue is not having open eyes, but having our hearts and behavior open to the truth we see.