﴿ وَقَالُوا۟ قُلُوبُنَا فِىٓ أَكِنَّةٍۢ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَآ إِلَيْهِ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِنَا وَقْرٌۭ وَمِنۢ بَيْنِنَا وَبَيْنِكَ حِجَابٌۭ فَٱعْمَلْ إِنَّنَا عَٰمِلُونَ ﴾

“and so they say, [as it were:] “Our hearts are veiled from whatever thou callest us to, [O Muhammad,] and in our ears is deafness, and between us and thee is a barrier. Do, then, [whatever thou wilt, whereas,] behold, we shall do [as we have always done]!””

(And they) the disbelievers of Mecca, Abu Jahl and his host (say: Our hearts are protected) our hearts are shielded (from that unto which thou (O Muhammad) callest us) i.e. the Qur'an and the profession of Allah's divine Oneness, (and in our ears there is a deafness) we do not hear what you say to us, (and between us and thee there is a veil) they covered their heads with their clothes and then said: " O Muhammad! There is between us and you a veil and we do not hear what you say " , to mock him. (Act) according to your religion for your own god so that we are destroyed, (then. Lo! we also shall be acting) for our deities, following our religion, in order to destroy you.