The First Step to Guidance: Listening

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

Allah says,

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

“If only we had been listening or thinking, we would not be among the people of the Blaze” (Al-Mulk 67:10) 

This ayah is teaching us something very simple but very important: it’s not enough to just hear the truth—you have to be willing to accept it.

This ayah is not about people who never had a chance to learn. It’s about people who did hear the message, but didn’t really listen or think about it. They had the opportunity, but they didn’t use it.

Listening here means more than just hearing words. It means being open—letting the message reach your heart. And thinking means taking a moment to reflect: “Is this true? What should I do about it?” When a person stops doing both—listening and thinking—they block their own path to guidance.

We see this in everyday life. Some people don’t reject the truth after understanding it—they avoid it completely. They don’t want to hear reminders, they change the subject, or even turn off the Qur’an. Over time, this becomes a habit. Their heart slowly gets used to staying away from anything that might bring them closer to Allah. What starts as discomfort can turn into resistance, and then into not caring at all.

But we also need to be understanding. It’s not always just stubbornness. Sometimes people avoid listening because:

• they’ve been hurt
• they feel judged
• they feel guilty
• or they’ve had bad experiences

Yes, Shayṭan tries to pull people away, but many of these struggles are very human. That’s why we need to approach others with kindness, not harshness.

So what is our role when we see this happening?

It’s not our job to force people to listen. We can’t control hearts. Our job is simply to open the door, not push them through it.

That can be something small, like:

• sharing a short reminder
• sending a meaningful video
• saying something kind
• or just showing good character

Sometimes a small effort works better than a long talk.

Also, when someone feels uncomfortable hearing the Qur’an, it doesn’t always mean their heart is dead. Sometimes it means something inside them is reacting. There is still something there. A completely closed heart wouldn’t feel anything at all.

The ayah also shows that becoming among the people of the Blaze doesn’t happen suddenly. It happens little by little—when someone keeps choosing not to listen or think. But the opposite is also true. A person who starts listening, even a little, can slowly come closer to Allah.

And there is always hope. The one who turns away today might be the one who listens tomorrow. The person who once said, “Turn it off,” might one day find peace in it.

In the end, this verse is reminding all of us:

• stay open
• be willing to listen
• take time to think

Because guidance might already be there—we just have to let it in.

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