a disbeliever. It was also said: “Sealed,” in the language of Himyar.

“Woe, that Day, to those who deny—the ones who deny the Day of Recompense. None denies it except every sinful transgressor. When Our verses are recited to him, he says, ‘Legends of the former peoples.’ No! Rather, the stain of what they used to earn has covered their hearts. No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be veiled.”

Concerning His saying, “Woe, that Day, to those who deny—the ones who deny the Day of Recompense. None denies it except every sinful transgressor. When Our verses are recited to him, he says, ‘Legends of the former peoples.’ No!” Muqatil said: That is, they do not believe. He then began a new statement, saying: “Rather, the stain of what they used to earn has covered their hearts.”

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Samad al-Turabi informed us; Abu Muhammad ‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad ibn Hamawayh al-Sarakhsi related to us; Ibrahim ibn Hizyam al-Shashi informed us; Abu Muhammad ‘Abd (1) ibn Humayd al-Kashshi informed us; Safwan ibn ‘Isa related to us, from Ibn ‘Ajlan, from al-Qa‘qa‘ ibn Hakim, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When a believer commits a sin, a black spot appears upon his heart. If he repents, abandons it, and seeks forgiveness, his heart is polished clean of it. But if he persists, it increases until it overwhelms his heart.” This is the stain which Allah mentioned in His Book: “No! Rather, the stain of what they used to earn has covered their hearts.” (2)

The root meaning of “stain” is predominance. It is said, “Wine overcame his mind,” when it gets the better of him and he becomes intoxicated. Thus, the meaning of the verse is that sins have overcome their hearts and encompassed them. Al-Hasan said: “It is sin upon sin until the heart dies.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: “It has covered their hearts,” meaning, He has sealed them.

“No! Indeed, from their Lord, that Day”—the Day of Resurrection—“they will be veiled.” [Ibn ‘Abbas said: “No!” means: They do not believe. He then began a new statement, saying: “Indeed, from their Lord, that Day, they will be veiled.”] (3) Some said: They will be deprived of His honor and mercy. [They will be prevented.] (4) Qatadah said: This means that He will neither look at them nor purify them. Most exegetes said: they will be veiled from seeing Him.