الآية رقم (110) - وَنُقَلِّبُ أَفْئِدَتَهُمْ وَأَبْصَارَهُمْ كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُواْ بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ

(110) - (And We will turn away their hearts and their eyes just as they refused to believe in it the first time. And We will leave them in their transgression, wandering blindly.)

The Prophet (saws) said:

“The hearts of all men are between two of the Compassionate’s fingers as if they were one heart which He turns about as He wills.” Then God’s messenger said, “O God, who turns the hearts, turn our hearts to Your obedience!”[1]

So, Allah (swt) turned their hearts.

(… كَمَا لَمْ يُؤْمِنُوا بِهِ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ… ) (…as they refused to believe in it the first time ): Even if all the signs were brought to them, they would not believe, just as there had been interference between themselves and belief the first time. This is because, belief stems from both intellectual conviction and guidance of the heart. Therefore, intellectual conviction does not suffice without the acceptance of the heart.

(  وَنَذَرُهُمْ فِي طُغْيَانِهِمْ يَعْمَهُونَ… ) (…And We will leave them in their transgression, wandering blindly): The Arabic verb used for (wandering blindly) in the verse has the Arabic word ‘Amah as its verbal noun which means ‘hesitation’. Therefore, they are undecided due to their confusion about faith, and are constantly in doubt. This word is used for the blindness of the heart, while the Arabic word ‘Amaa  (blindness) is used for the blindness of the sight that is not able to see light.

[1] Sahih Muslim, The Book of Decree, Chapter: Allah’s turning the Hearts as He wills, Hadith No. 2654.