Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 88

The Israelites argued that their stubbornness was because their hearts were wrapped in a cover, so that none of what was said to them could reach them, or make sense to them. On the contrary, Allah deprived them of His mercy due to their disbelief, so that they will not have faith.

And they say, "Our hearts are Ghulf." Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe (88)

Muhammad bin Ishaq reported that Ibn 'Abbas said that,

وَقَالُوا قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ

(And they say, "Our hearts are Ghulf."), means, "Our hearts are screened." Mujahid also said that,

وَقَالُوا قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ

(And they say, "Our hearts are Ghulf."), means, "They are covered." Ikrimah said, "There is a stamp on them." Abu Al-'Aliyah said, "They do not comprehend." Mujahid and Qatadah said that Ibn 'Abbas read the Ayah in a way that means, "Our hearts contain every type of knowledge and do not need the knowledge that you (O Muhammad) have." This is the opinion of 'Ata' and Ibn 'Abbas.

بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ

(Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief) meaning, "Allah expelled them and deprived them of every type of righteousness." Qatadah said that the Ayah,

فَقَلِيلًا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

(So little is that which they believe.) means, "Only a few of them believe." Allah's statement,

وَقَالُوا قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ

(And they say, "Our hearts are Ghulf.") is similar to His statement,

وَقَالُوا قُلُوبُنَا فِي أَكِنَّةٍ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ

(And they say: "Our hearts are under coverings (screened) from that to which you invite us)(41:5).

This is why Allah said here,

بَل لَّعَنَهُمُ اللَّهُ بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَقَلِيلاً مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

(Nay, Allah has cursed them for their disbelief, so little is that which they believe.) meaning, "It is not as they claim. Rather, their hearts are cursed and stamped," just as Allah said in Surat An-Nisa' (4:155),

وَقَوْلِهِمْ قُلُوبُنَا غُلْفٌ بَلْ طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهَا بِكُفْرِهِمْ فَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

(And of their saying: "Our hearts are wrapped (with coverings, i.e. we do not understand what the Messengers say) ـ nay, Allah has set a seal upon their hearts because of their disbelief, so they believe not but a little.)

There is a difference of opinion regarding the meaning of Allah's statement,

فَقَلِيلًا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

(So little is that which they believe.) and His statement,

فَلاَ يُؤْمِنُونَ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً

(So they believe not except a few). Some scholars said that the Ayat indicate that a few of them would believe, or that their faith is minute, because they believe in Resurrection and in Allah's reward and punishment that Musa foretold. Yet, this faith will not benefit them since it is overshadowed by their disbelief in what Muhammad ﷺ brought them. Some scholars said that the Jews did not actually believe in anything and that Allah said,

فَقَلِيلًا مَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ

(So little is that which they believe), meaning, they do not believe. This meaning is similar to the Arabic expression, "Hardly have I seen anything like this," meaning, "I have never seen anything like this."