وَمَا تَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ آيَةٍ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
And no sign from among their Lord's signs comes to them without their turning away from it
وَمَا تَأْتِيهِمْ مِنْ آيَةٍ مِنْ آيَاتِ رَبِّهِمْ إِلَّا كَانُوا عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ
And no sign from among their Lord's signs comes to them without their turning away from it
This verse explains why the previous appeal receives no answer. These people do not reject only one warning; turning away from divine signs has become their accustomed response. Whenever something directs them towards the truth, they avoid considering what it means.
“The signs of their Lord” has a broad scope. It includes signs in the world around us, such as the earth, the heavens and the patterns of nature, and signs within ourselves, inviting reflection on human life and our own existence. It also includes revealed verses and miraculous signs, including the Quran itself, which calls people to recognise the truth of God's message. Their turning away is not confined to one kind of sign; it extends to all of them.
The description “they were turning away from it” portrays a continuing attitude. The difficulty here is not simply a lack of information or insufficient opportunity to learn. These people will not attend to the signs long enough to consider their meaning. There is a real difference between someone who sincerely seeks the truth while still having questions and someone unwilling even to hear the case for it.
Having clear signs before us does not, by itself, guarantee guidance. Noticing a sign is different from thinking about it and accepting the truth towards which it points. The benefit we draw from guidance depends not only on the presence of evidence but also on our willingness to engage with it.