“أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ” (Will you not then understand?)

Let’s examine some Quranic verses that encourage us to thoughtfully consider our beliefs. The Quran prompts us to reflect deeply, both within ourselves and about the broader universe, guiding us to contemplate and seek understanding.

Key Words

• “أَفَلَا تَتَفَكَّرُونَ” (Will you not then think?): 6 times
• “أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ” (Will you not then understand?): 13 times
• “أَفَلَا يَتَفَكَّرُونَ” (Do they not reflect?): 4 times
• “أَفَلَا يَعْقِلُونَ” (Do they not use their intellect?): 13 times
• “أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ” (Will they not then reflect?): 4 times

Verses

Surah Muhammad (47:24)

Arabic:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا

English Translation:

“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?”

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Surah An-Nisa (4:82)

Arabic:

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا

English Translation:

“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.”

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Surah Al-A’raf (7:179)

Arabic:

وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ ۖ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَّا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَّا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آذَانٌ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ ۚ أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ

English Translation:

“And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts with which they do not understand, they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. They are like cattle; rather, they are even more astray. It is they who are the heedless.”

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Surah Al-Ma’idah (5:58)

Arabic:

وَإِذَا نَادَيْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ اتَّخَذُوهَا هُزُوًا وَلَعِبًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّهُمْ قَوْمٌ لَّا يَعْقِلُونَ

English Translation:

“And when you call to prayer, they take it in ridicule and amusement. That is because they are a people who do not use reason.”

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Surah Al-Ankabut (29:20)

Arabic: قُلْ سِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانظُرُوا كَيْفَ بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللَّهُ يُنْشِئُ النَّشْأَةَ الْآخِرَةَ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

English Translation: “Say, ‘Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will bring about the final creation. Indeed, Allah, over all things, is competent.’”

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Surah Yusuf (12:109)

Arabic:

وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِن قَبْلِكَ إِلَّا رِجَالًا نُّوحِي إِلَيْهِم مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْقُرَىٰ ۗ أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۗ وَلَدَارُ الْآخِرَةِ خَيْرٌ لِّلَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا ۗ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ

English Translation:

“And We sent not before you [as messengers] except men to whom We revealed from among the people of cities. So have they not traveled through the earth and observed how was the end of those before them? But the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah; then will you not reason?”

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Surah Al-Hadid (57:17)

Arabic: اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا لَكُمُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ

English Translation: “Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have certainly made clear to you the signs that you might give thought.”

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Surah Al-Baqarah (2:164)

Arabic: إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

English Translation: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for those of understanding.”

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Surah Al-Mulk (67:10)

Arabic:

وَقَالُوا لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِي أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِ

English Translation:

“And they will say, ‘If only we had been listening or reasoning, we would not be among the companions of the Blaze (Hell-Fire).”

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A verse for those who believe and still do not practice, it was about the people of Torah and also it is sending messages to the believers of the Holy Quran.

Surah Al-Jumu’ah (62:5)

Arabic: مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

English Translation: “The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on [i.e., practice its teachings] is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.”

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I hope that we all find what we are looking for, the ultimate happiness and total success.