THE PHENOMENON OF SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS AND DEAFNESS AMONG MUSLIMS IN THE END TIMES

Summary of Surah al-Kahf 18:101

Verse 18:101 is the culmination of a sequence of four verses beginning from 18:98 to 18:100, describing how mankind transitions from receiving divine mercy to becoming beings disconnected from the Source of Divine Awareness. It is not merely a historical narrative but a self-diagnosis that Allah presents to us — the people of the End Times — who live under systems that deny truth even while breathing under the banner of Islam.

The verse begins with allazīna (ٱلَّذِينَ), which clarifies that those referred to are not the original disbelievers but those who once knew Allah and heard His revelations. They are not people who never knew the truth, but those who already lived with divine guidance. Thus, allazīna here refers to those who know the truth yet reject it, who understand the verses of Allah yet no longer submit to them, who still utter the name of Allah with their tongues but whose hearts have become disconnected from the true meaning of remembrance (zikir) in life.

Next, kānat aʿyunuhum (كَانَتْ أَعْيُنُهُمْ) explains their long-standing state of losing the ability to see truth. Their eyes still function, yet they no longer perceive the meaning behind what they see. Their capacity to discern truth through perception has slowly faded until it became a permanent condition within them. They are not physically blind, but their sight is severed from its original purpose — to recognize the signs of Allah hidden behind appearances.

Then comes the phrase fī ghiṭāʾin ʿan dhikrī (فِي غِطَاءٍ عَنْ ذِكْرِي), which explains why this condition exists. They live within a veil that blocks the light of truth from entering their hearts. Their perception no longer penetrates the realm of remembrance because the heart is closed to divine light. They still see the world with their eyes, yet fail to perceive the divine realities behind creation. The remembrance (zikir) that once connected humanity to Allah through three channels — revelation, nature, and the self — has been severed all at once. When these connections are broken, humans replace remembrance with self-centered thought systems, and thus lose the spiritual insight (ma‘rifah) that arises from reflection upon Allah’s signs.

Finally, Allah concludes the structure of this verse with wa kānū lā yastathīʿūna samʿan (وَكَانُوا لَا يَسْتَطِيعُونَ سَمْعًا), depicting the state in which their ears can no longer grasp the meaning of truth. They still hear the voice of revelation but fail to understand it. The word of Allah reaches their ears, yet its vibration never penetrates the qalb (heart) because their hearts have blocked the divine frequency. At this stage, their entire inner hearing system is paralyzed — the truth no longer passes through their eyes, and sound no longer reaches their hearts. This is the deepest form of spiritual deafness, when every gateway of remembrance has been sealed.

Therefore, we must reflect and remember that Surah al-Kahf 18:101 — the verse the Prophet instructed us to recite — is a portrait of people who have lost their connection with the remembrance of Allah even while living within the sphere of religion. They still recite Allah’s verses, memorize them, and listen to reminders, yet none of these actions awaken their hearts.

This verse stands as a divine warning: do not allow your eyes to see only shapes, your ears to hear only sounds, or your tongues to recite words without spirit. When remembrance is severed, the entire system of awareness collapses, and humanity becomes blind and deaf to truth, even while believing themselves to be faithful.

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