02-18: Deaf, Dumb & Blind

صُمٌّۢ بُكْمٌ عُمْىٌۭ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ ١٨

Deaf, dumb, and blind, they will not return (to the path).

صُمٌّ

صُمٌّ embodies a spiritual deafness, where the heart and mind become closed off from the divine truth. It’s not simply the absence of physical hearing, but a willful resistance to the guidance that surrounds them. This deafness goes beyond the senses; it represents a refusal to listen to the whispers of wisdom and righteousness, even when they are clear and present. It is the inability to hear the call of the divine, not because of physical limitations, but because of a heart that is hardened and a soul that is detached from its source of truth. The deafness in this sense is not passive—it is a choice to remain unresponsive, to block out the light of guidance in favor of darkness. The true essence of صُمٌّ in this context lies in the rejection of the divine invitation, where a person’s inner faculties are shut off from perceiving the profound messages meant to awaken them.

بُكْمٌ 

بُكْمٌ symbolizes not just the absence of speech, but a profound silence of the soul, a refusal to express the truth or respond to divine guidance. It represents an inner stifling of the voice, where one may have the capacity to speak but chooses not to, either out of fear, stubbornness, or indifference. This metaphorical muteness is not merely the inability to speak—it signifies a spiritual blockage, where the heart refuses to articulate what is right or to proclaim the truth. It is as if the individual, despite having the tools for communication, is mute in their response to the divine call, remaining silent in the face of clarity and wisdom. This silence, in its essence, is a spiritual withdrawal, a refusal to express or act upon the guidance provided, leaving the soul trapped in stillness, unable to speak the words of truth and righteousness. It can describe someone who is literally unable to speak or someone who, despite having a voice, remains silent in situations that demand speech. In deeper contexts, بُكْمٌ can symbolize ignorance, fear, or submission—when silence is not just a condition, but a choice or an imposed state.

عُمْىٌ

عُمْىٌ conveys a deep metaphorical blindness, a state where the heart and soul are veiled from the light of truth. It is not merely the loss of physical sight but the inability or unwillingness to perceive divine guidance and wisdom, even when it is right before one’s eyes. This blindness represents a spiritual darkness, where a person may see the world with their eyes but is blind to the deeper truths and realities that surround them. It is a state of being lost, not in the absence of light, but in a refusal to acknowledge it. The essence of عُمْىٌ is an internal barrier, where the soul is unable to recognize the truth, trapped in ignorance and oblivion. It is as though the light of guidance shines brightly, but the heart remains closed, rejecting the illumination that could lead it to clarity. It represents not only the literal inability to see but also a deeper blindness of the heart and mind, where truth is ignored, and clarity is lost. It can symbolize ignorance, stubbornness, or being lost in confusion, where someone refuses to perceive what is right in front of them. It is not just darkness but an inability—or unwillingness—to find the light.