Have you seen he who has taken as his god his [own] desire, and Allāh has sent him astray due to knowledge1473 and has set a seal upon his hearing and his heart and put over his vision a veil? So who will guide him after Allāh? Then will you not be reminded?
Notes
[1473] This can refer to Allāh's knowledge of that person and of his preference for his own inclinations or to that person's knowledge of the truth while he refuses it.
Verse 23 of Surah Al-Jathiyah (45:23), a Meccan surah, is in juz 25, on page 501 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 73 reciters.
Listen to verse 23 of Surah Al-Jathiyah
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Tafsir of verse 23
Al-Mukhtasar
O Messenger, look at the one who followed his desires and made it like his god he cannot oppose, then Allah led him astray despite his knowledge, because he deserved to be misguided, and Allah sealed his heart so he cannot listen in a manner that benefits, and Allah put a veil on his eyes which stops him from seeing the truth. So who can enable him to the truth after Allah has led him astray? Do you not remember the harm of following desires and the benefit of following Allah’s sacred law?
Have you seen the one who took his whims as his god, and Allah caused him to stray despite having knowledge6, and sealed up his hearing and heart, and put a cover over his sight? Who can guide him after Allah? Will you not then take heed?
Notes
[6] Or Allah’s eternal knowledge of that person's preference for his own inclinations over divine guidance.
Have you seen him who takes his own lust (vain desires) as his ilâh (god)? And Allâh knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allâh? Will you not then remember?
Hast thou seen him who maketh his desire his god, and Allah sendeth him astray purposely, and sealeth up his hearing and his heart, and setteth on his sight a covering? Then who will lead him after Allah (hath condemned him)? Will ye not then heed?
Then seest thou such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire? Allah has, knowing (him as such), left him astray, and sealed his hearing and his heart (and understanding), and put a cover on his sight. Who, then, will guide him after Allah (has withdrawn Guidance)? Will ye not then receive admonition?
Have you then considered him who takes his low desire for his god, and Allah has made him err having knowledge and has set a seal upon his ear and his heart and put a covering upon his eye. Who can then guide him after Allah? Will you not then be mindful?
So have you seen him who has taken to him his prejudice to be his god, and Allah has led him into error in spite of a knowledge, (i.e., although he had (some) knowledge) and has sealed his hearing and his heart, and made an envelopment on his beholding? (i.e., eyesight) Who will then guide him ever after Allah? Will you then not be mindful?
