Hearing and Sight Set Together
سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا
samīʿan baṣīran — Hearing, Seeing
In the verses given, the roots س م ع and ب ص ر repeatedly appear side by side in a single verse, either as paired divine attributes ("Hearing, Seeing") or as paired human faculties—given, sealed, or held accountable together—so that hearing and sight function as a fixed twofold unit.
The two roots occur together in each of the fourteen verses given, in two recurring patterns. In one pattern, س م ع and ب ص ر name Allah: the paired adjectives سَمِيعًۢا بَصِيرًا (4:58), سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ (22:75; 31:28), and the definite forms ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ (40:20). In each case the two words stand adjacent, in the same form and case, describing Allah in contexts of judging with equity (4:58), selecting envoys (22:75), raising the dead (31:28), and decreeing with the truth (40:20). In the other pattern, the roots name human faculties. They are objects of divine action: sealed or covered (2:7; 16:108; 45:23), made for human beings (67:23), and things "to be asked about" (17:36). They are also negated as failed faculties: eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear (7:179), and at 7:198 no hearing and no perception even while looking; inability to listen and not seeing (11:20); and what is served that neither hears nor sees (19:42). At 41:22 the two appear as witnesses, "your hearing, your sights". Wherever both roots appear as nouns the pair shares its case (e.g. genitive singular سَمْعِهِۦ beside genitive singular بَصَرِهِۦ at 45:23); at 11:20 the noun ٱلسَّمْعَ pairs with the verb يُبْصِرُونَ. The surrounding words regularly add a third faculty (heart, inner heart, skins), yet hearing and sight remain the fixed pair even where the heart precedes or divides them (2:7; 16:108; 7:179; 45:23).
Where it occurs
- 2:7 Hearing and sights are both objects of sealing/covering, alongside hearts.
- 4:58 Paired divine attributes "Hearing, Seeing" following instruction on trusts and equitable judgment.
- 7:179 Eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear, among hearts that do not comprehend.
- 7:198 Those called to guidance do not hear, and while looking they do not perceive.
- 11:20 Inability to listen and not seeing, as the punished ones' failed faculties.
- 16:108 Hearts, hearing, and sights are what Allah has stamped.
- 17:36 The hearing and the sight (with the inner heart) are each "to be asked about".
- 19:42 What is served "does not hear, and does not see"—both roots negated as 3MS imperfects.
- 22:75 Paired divine attributes "Hearing, Seeing" after Allah's selection of envoys.
- 31:28 Paired divine attributes "Hearing, Seeing" after the statement on creation and raising.
- 40:20 Definite paired names "the Hearing, the Seeing" contrasting Allah's decree with what others decree.
- 41:22 "Your hearing" and "your sights" bear witness against the addressees, with their skins.
- 45:23 Hearing sealed and a covering placed over sight, with the heart, for one led astray.
- 67:23 The hearing and the sights are what Allah made for human beings, with the hearts.
All Qur'anic expressions