مَثَلُهُمْ كَمَثَلِ الَّذِي اسْتَوْقَدَ نَارًا فَلَمَّا أَضَاءَتْ مَا حَوْلَهُ ذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِنُورِهِمْ وَتَرَكَهُمْ فِي ظُلُمَاتٍ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ ﴿17﴾ صُمٌّ بُكْمٌ عُمْيٌ فَهُمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿18﴾

﴾17﴿Masaluhum kamasalillazis tawqada naaran falammaaa adaaa'at maa hawlahoo zahabal laahu binoorihim wa tarakahum fee zulumaatil laa yubsiroon
﴾18﴿Summum bukmun 'umyun fahum laa yarji'oon

﴾17﴿ Their condition is like that of someone who kindled a fire, and when it illuminated everything around them, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness, where they can see nothing
﴾18﴿ They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they do not return (from misguidance to the path of truth).

[17] This is a parable about the disbelievers or the hypocrites who prevent others from the Quran while not listening to it themselves. The explanation is that the hypocrites gained the light of faith by saying “We believe,” like someone who kindles a fire. Through this false belief, they obtained worldly benefits—such as a share in war spoils or zakat—just like someone who lights a fire and illuminates their surroundings. But in times of trial or hardship, their disbelief becomes clear, or when they die, the light of faith disappears, like a fire extinguished by a storm, leaving only darkness behind. This parable can also apply to open disbelievers. The explanation is that the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) in Makkah kindled the light of monotheism and the Quran. People around benefited and accepted faith, but the disbelievers of Makkah neither listened to the Quran nor allowed others to listen. Then the Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) migrated, and the people of Makkah were left in darkness—darkness of polytheism, disbelief, and traditions. Similarly, when people do not benefit from the Quran, Allah removes its bearer to another place, leaving them in darkness. “He kindled a fire” refers to the Prophet’s great efforts in spreading light, and “fire” is mentioned because it requires fuel—just as the companions and other students of the Quran prepared themselves. “Their light” is mentioned instead of “their fire” because monotheism, prophethood, and the Quran are the Prophet’s light. With his migration, all of this light moved to Madinah. Just as fire has two qualities—illumination and burning—the illumination departed, but the burning (the punishment and consequences) remained.
[18] This describes the condition of those being compared in the parable, meaning these disbelievers and hypocrites are obstinate, and their faculties of understanding have been destroyed. The intended meaning is that no means remain for them to come out of darkness. Their ears, eyes, and tongues do not respond to the truth. “They do not return” means they are unable to turn back from misguidance to guidance.