سورة النحل

The Messenger (peace be upon him and his family)- Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) used to call his companions to Allah. Anyone for whom Allah willed good would hear his words and understand his message, and anyone for whom He willed evil would have a seal placed on his heart, so he neither heard his words nor understood them. And this is the meaning of the verse: أُولَئِکَ الَّذِینَ طَبَعَ اللهُ عَلَی قُلُوبِهِمْ وَسَمْعِهِمْ وَأَبْصَارِهِمْ وَأُولَئِکَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ [Those are they on whose hearts and hearing and sight Allah has set a seal, and those are the heedless ones].

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him)- Abu al-Mundhir Hisham ibn Sa'ib al-Kalbi came to Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him), and the Imam said to him: "Are you the one who explains the Quran?" He said: "Yes!" He said: "Inform me about this verse, where Allah the Mighty and Majestic says: 'And when you recite the Quran, We place between you and those who do not believe in the hereafter a thick veil' (al-Isra/45). Which [verse of] the Quran is it that, when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his family) recited it, remained hidden from them?" He said: "I do not know!" He said: "Then how do you claim to explain the Quran?!" He said: "O son of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him)! If you see it fit, kindly favor me and teach me." He said: "One verse is in Surah al-Kahf, one in Surah al-Nahl, and one in Surah al-Jathiya, which are as follows: أُولئِکَ الَّذِینَ طَبَعَ اللهُ عَلی قُلُوبِهِمْ وَ سَمْعِهِمْ وَ أَبْصارِهِمْ وَ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الْغافِلُونَ [Those are they on whose hearts and hearing and sight Allah has set a seal, and those are the heedless ones]."

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): Allah created a group for Jahannam and the Fire, and He commanded us to convey Allah's command to them just as we conveyed it to them. But they were shaken and troubled by it, threw it back at us, could not bear it, denied it, and said: "He is a magician and a liar." So Allah set a seal on their hearts and made them forget it. Then He allowed their tongues to utter some of the truth, so they speak it with their tongues while their hearts deny it, so that by this means Allah's friends and His obedient servants may be safe from them. Were it not so, Allah would not be worshipped on the earth. We are commanded to leave them alone and to keep this matter hidden from them; you too must conceal and hide it from those whom Allah has commanded you to keep away from.

Imam Sadiq (peace be upon him): It is necessary for servants to have pure intention in every movement and stillness, for if the intention is not pure they are counted among the heedless. And Allah described the heedless in this manner and said: "إِنْ هُمْ إِلَّا کَالْأَنْعامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ سَبِیلًا [They are but like cattle; rather, they are further astray in path]" (al-Furqan/44), and He said: "وَ أُولئِکَ هُمُ الْغافِلُونَ [And it is they who are the heedless]."