Critical Studies on the Quranic Exegesis

Critical Studies on the Quranic Exegesis

Unbiased Hearing in the Qurʾān: Preferring the Uncommon Interpretation of "Nasmaʿ" (Q. 67:10)

Document Type : Original article

Author
Morteza Yagobkhani Ghiasvand
Assistant Professor, Department of Islamic Educatoin, Farhangian University of Zanjan, Zanjan, Iran.
10.22034/naghdeara.2026.564316.1367
Abstract
This article examines the meaning of "nasmaʿ" (we hear) in Q. 67:10, where the damned confess that had they only heard and reasoned, they would not be among the inhabitants of the Blaze. Working within the framework of Islamic theology and relying on Shiʿi hermeneutical premises, the author defends the uncommon exegetical view that "hearing" here means literal, unbiased, instinctive listening (samʿ ghayrīzī) , not thoughtful hearing, acceptance, seeking truth, or compliance—meanings that, according to the author, are logical concomitants of hearing, not its lexical core. Drawing on classical dictionaries such as Lisān al-ʿArab, Quranic usages (especially Q. 41:26 and Q. 25:44) , historical reports from Sīrat b. Hishām, and the Meccan context of Sūrat al-Mulk, the author argues that the disbelievers feared mere exposure to the Qurʾan's sound and language because of its transformative power. The article further draws three educational implications: unbiased hearing as a prerequisite for being affected by divine speech, the effectiveness of repeated exposure (talqīn) , and the sufficiency of hearing without complex rational argumentation. The author distinguishes his reading from Sufi interpretations of samāʿ and positions it against mainstream exegetical views. He concludes that the literal interpretation is lexically, historically, and contextually better grounded and offers meaningful insights for religious education.
Keywords
Samʿ (Hearing)
Talqīn (Inculcation)
Auditory Bias
Phonetic Miracle (Iʿjāz al-Ṣawtī)
Subjects
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  • Receive Date 06 December 2025
  • Revise Date 19 April 2026
  • Accept Date 25 April 2026