The Holy Quran 2:20 — Surah Al-Baqarah

Arabic text

يَكَادُ ٱلْبَرْقُ يَخْطَفُ أَبْصَـٰرَهُمْ ۖ كُلَّمَآ أَضَآءَ لَهُم مَّشَوْا۟ فِيهِ وَإِذَآ أَظْلَمَ عَلَيْهِمْ قَامُوا۟ ۚ وَلَوْ شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ لَذَهَبَ بِسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرِهِمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

Translation

Soon the lightning (the clear proofs of the Qur'aan) may take away their eyesight (it may awaken their sleeping hearts by removing the blindness of their spiritual eyes). Whenever it (the lightning) lights up (the way) for them, they walk in it (in its light) but when darkness overcomes them, they stand still (whenever they hear something that appeals to them, they accept but no sooner do they hear something they do not like, then they reject it). If Allaah wills, He could even take away their (physical) abilities of hearing and seeing (just as He took away their spiritual eyes and ears). Verily Allaah has control over all things.

Tafsir (excerpt) — Tafsir Usmani

The upshot is that the hypocrites are caught in their misguidance and their dark notions; but when they see the triumph of the light of Islam and the appearance of miracles, and hear the emphatic commands and warnings of the shariah, they are roused and outwardly turn towards the straight path; and when some worldly hurt or hardship comes into view, they…

Preview. The full text opens with JavaScript enabled.