Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allāh has not granted light - for him there is no light.
كَظُلُمَٰتٖ(is) like (the) darkness[es]kaẓulumātin
فِيinfī
بَحۡرٖa seabaḥrin
لُّجِّيّٖdeeplujjiyyin
يَغۡشَىٰهُcovers ityaghshāhu
مَوۡجٞa wavemawjun
مِّنon itmin
فَوۡقِهِۦon itfawqihi
مَوۡجٞa wavemawjun
مِّنon itmin
فَوۡقِهِۦon itfawqihi
سَحَابٞۚa cloudsaḥābun
ظُلُمَٰتُۢdarkness[es]ẓulumātun
بَعۡضُهَاsome of itbaʿḍuhā
فَوۡقَonfawqa
بَعۡضٍothersbaʿḍin
إِذَآWhenidhā
أَخۡرَجَhe puts outakhraja
يَدَهُۥhis handyadahu
لَمۡhardlylam
يَكَدۡhardlyyakad
يَرَىٰهَاۗhe (can) see ityarāhā
وَمَنAnd (for) whomwaman
لَّمۡnotlam
يَجۡعَلِAllah (has) madeyajʿali
ٱللَّهُAllah (has) madel-lahu
لَهُۥfor himlahu
نُورٗاa lightnūran
فَمَاthen notfamā
لَهُۥfor himlahu
مِن(is) anymin
نُّورٍlightnūrin
Tafsir
Or their deeds are like the many darkness in the depth of the ocean, over which is a wave, over which is another wave, over which is a cloud covering the navigating stars. Compounded layers of darkness, one above the other; if the one that finds himself among such darkness were to remove his hand in front of him, he would barely see it. Likewise is a disbeliever: the darkness of ignorance, doubt, confusion and his heart being sealed up, gather up on him. Whoever Allah does not grant guidance from error to and knowledge of the Book, will never find any other guidance or any other book from which he can seek enlightenment.