THE PHENOMENON OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS AND DEAFNESS AMONG MUSLIMS IN THE END TIMES
Allazīna (ٱلَّذِينَ) and Its Position Within the Context of Verses 18:98 to 18:101

Introduction

Understanding the meaning of allazīna in verse 18:101 is crucial because it determines who exactly Allah is referring to within the context of Surah al-Kahf. Without grasping the reference of allazīna, one might mistakenly interpret this verse as merely a warning for non-Muslims, when in truth it is a diagnosis of us—the Muslims of the End Times—who know Allah but no longer think or remember Him in the true sense.

The verse begins:

ٱلَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطَاءٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِي...

“Those whose eyes were covered from My remembrance…”

The word ٱلَّذِينَ (allazīna) functions as a connective phrase that links the new subject introduced in this verse to the context already mentioned in the preceding verses.

This means that verse 101 does not stand alone. It actually explains who the “disbelievers” mentioned in the previous verse (18:100) are:

وَعَرَضۡنَا جَهَنَّمَ يَوۡمَئِذٍ لِّلۡكَٰفِرِينَ عَرۡضًا

“And We shall present Hell, on that Day, before the disbelievers, plain to view.”
(Surah al-Kahf, 18:100)

Therefore, allazīna here means:

“That is, the disbelievers mentioned earlier are those who…”

In summary:

• Verse 18:100 mentions the disbelievers (al-kāfirīn).

• Verse 18:101 begins to describe the internal profile and characteristics of these disbelievers.

Who Are These People According to the Continuity of 18:98–100?

Let us trace the chronological flow to understand it clearly:

• 18:98 — Dhul-Qarnayn says that the barrier is a mercy from Allah and will crumble when His promise comes. These are the people who have witnessed Allah’s mercy (those given the chance to recognize the truth).

• 18:99 — After the barrier collapses, humankind and Gog and Magog intermingle; then the trumpet is blown. These are the people living after the collapse—when truth and falsehood become mixed.

• 18:100 — Hell is shown to the disbelievers, the ones who reject Allah’s promise even after seeing the truth.

• 18:101 — Allazīna then clarifies who these disbelievers actually are: Muslims who once knew Allah but eventually became blind and deaf to His reminders.

The Meaning of “Allazīna” Linguistically and Contextually

In the Qur’an, the word ٱلَّذِينَ (allazīna) is always used for beings with consciousness, intellect, and moral accountability.

Consider the well-known phrase:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا (Yā ayyuhallazīna āmanū)

“O you who believe.”

This divine address is reserved exclusively for those who already have faith—it is never used for disbelievers.

It is also never used for animals, jinn, or primitive idol worshippers who have never received the message. Allah would not use allazīna to address people who are ignorant of the truth.

Instead, it refers to those who know, who have heard, who have understood, yet choose to reject.

Therefore, when Allah says:

ٱلَّذِينَ كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ فِي غِطَاءٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِي

“Those whose eyes were covered from My remembrance,”

it does not describe the original disbelievers or idol worshippers.
It describes a group who have already heard Allah’s verses, known His name, and understood His reality (ma‘rifah), but no longer measure their lives by His remembrance (zikrullāh).

Summary

In this verse, Allazīna refers to those who know Allah, speak of Allah, possess knowledge, have heard His reminders, and even deliver reminders to others—yet at the same time disregard His signs upon themselves.

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